Latest News from Turkey
‘Christmas Basket’ returns next Wednesday
The "Household Basket" initiative is to be extended during the holiday season with the addition of a "Christmas Basket," which this year will include six additional categories of products used in the traditional Greek Christmas dinner.
Turkey warns of ‘arms race’ on Cyprus
Turkey's Foreign Ministry has described the "armament activities" of the internationally recognized Republic of Cyprus as "wrong," saying they could "start an arms race on the island."
Erdogan hopes Syrian rebels will advance, but raises alarm about some fighters
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has said he hoped Syrian rebels will continue their advance against President Bashar al-Assad's forces in Syria, but voiced concern about what he said were terrorist organizations in their midst.
Turkish diplomat takes the helm of OSCE
A senior Turkish diplomat, Feridun Sinirlioğlu, has been appointed as the secretary-general of the Organization of Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) with the votes of all 57 member states, becoming the first Turkish national taking the helm of the prestigious organization.
The disgrace in Parliament, the banks (counting backwards), the new EYP Deputy Director, Mylonas and Ethniki Insurance, and the Chinese drivers of Piraeus
– Hello there, just a few words – unfortunately necessary – about the political disgrace we are witnessing, stemming from a profoundly tragic story that made the headlines (how many others don’t…) about the police officer and his wife who were sexually abusing their children.
St. Nicholas Day in Bulgaria: Maritime Traditions and Name Day Celebrations
Today, the Orthodox Church celebrates the memory of St. Nicholas of Myra, known as the Wonderworker, with a holiday widely referred to as St. Nicholas Day or in Bulgaria: "Nikulden"/"Никулден". One of Christianity's most venerated saints, St. Nicholas is the patron saint of sailors, fishermen, and maritime professionals, including captains, engineers, and dock workers.
Türkiye supports Syria's territorial integrity, says top security council
Türkiye's National Security Council (MGK) declared its support for Syrian territorial integrity and expressed its commitment towards stability in the country in the evening of Dec. 5.
Chaired by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the council, in a written statement, outlined the country's stances in Syria, Lebanon and Palestine.
Erdoğan, UN chief discuss regional issues on phone
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Dec. 5 held a phone call with U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres during the National Security Council (MGK) meeting.
The two discussed both regional and global issues, according to a statement from Türkiye's Directorate of Communications.
Japanese royal couple begins Istanbul trip, visits Hagia Sophia
Japan's Crown Prince Fumihito and Crown Princess Kiko continued their visit to Türkiye on Dec. 5, attending various cultural events in Istanbul, with a notable stop at the iconic Hagia Sophia among their destinations.
The royal couple landed in the capital Ankara late on Dec. 3, beginning their first official visit to Türkiye.
Turkish top diplomat attends OSCE summit amid growing conflicts
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan attended the OSCE summit in Malta where growing security issues in Europe and the Middle East were the focal point of the 57-nation security and cooperation organization.
The ministerial council of the OSCE was launched in Valetta on Dec. 5, with the participation of dozens of foreign ministers, including the United States, Türkiye, Russia and others.
Has the Greek-Turkish dialogue stalled?
While Greece and Turkey's foreign ministers are working to lay the groundwork for a key summit between Prime Minister Mitsotakis and President Erdogan early next year, there are growing concerns that progress in resolving differences in the Aegean Sea is proving all but impossible.
Too early for mass Aleppo returns: Turkish minister
Some 42 percent of Syrians residing in Türkiye are from Aleppo and seek to immediately return to their country in the wake of recent developments in the region, Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya has said.
‘If a firman had ever existed…’
Her statement at last May's UNESCO intergovernmental committee caused a stir in Greece and abroad. It was no small thing for a representative of Turkey to say that the sultan's firman invoked by Britain to justify Lord Elgin's removal of the Parthenon Sculptures and their subsequent purchase by the British government has not been found in Ottoman archives.
Leaders preparing for Ankara summit
Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met in Brussels on Wednesday, laying the groundwork for a pivotal summit between Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Kurdish pupils denied language lessons in Turkey amid wider curbs, families say
A Turkish government proposal to end a decades-long conflict with Kurdish militants has put Kurdish rights back in the spotlight, at a time when Kurdish leaders say repression is rife and freedoms won more than a decade ago have eroded.