Category: Turkey

Estrangement between Europe and Turkey grows as a referendum on Erdogana s power nears

The unusually bitter dispute between European countries and Turkey over President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s attempts to hold political rallies in their cities is sharply escalating as Ankara releases its long-simmering frustration at its perceived mistreatment by its allies. After its ministers were barred from giving campaign speeches in Cologne, Rotterdam and other cities last week, the Turkish government stoked the crisis by accusing the German government of “Nazi practices,” calling the Dutch “Nazi remnants,” warning that they will “pay the price” and telling the Dutch ambassador not to return to Ankara.

Dutch PM: Red line drawn because of Turkey’s ‘blackmail’

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte says he was forced to keep two Turkish ministers from traveling within the Netherlands and to bar them from campaigning among Turkish voters because Ankara had threatened sanctions against his government. The prime minister says he was shocked to see one of the ministers try to get to a Rotterdam rally by car after the government had made clear she was not welcome.

The Latest: Turkish minister attends France campaign rally

Turkey’s top diplomat has drawn more than a hundred people at a campaign gathering in the northern French city of Metz amid a diplomatic spat with the Netherlands. Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu was in France Sunday to whip up support for controversial constitutional reforms to expand the powers of the Turkish presidency.

Turkey-Dutch relations take dip after Turkish visits banned

ROTTERDAM, Netherlands – The escalating dispute between Turkey and the Netherlands spilled over into Sunday, with a Turkish minister unable to enter her consulate after the Dutch had already blocked a visit by the foreign minister, prompting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to call the Dutch fascists and “Nazi remnants.”

With U.S. troops, Syria confident it can capture ISIS ‘capital’

This frame grab from a video provided by the Syria Democratic Forces , shows fighters from the SDF opening fire on an Islamic State group’s position, in Raqqa’s eastern countryside, Syria, Monday, March 6, 2017. The main U.S.-backed force fighting the Islamic State group in Syria has enough fighters to capture the extremists’ de facto capital of Raqqa north of the country at a time when U.S. troops are playing a bigger role on the ground in the battle to conquer the city, a spokeswoman for the force said Friday, March 10, 2017.

The Latest: Rotterdam mayor issues emergency order in spat

The Dutch government on Saturday withdrew landing permission for the Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu’s aircraft, draw… . The Foreign Minister of Turkey Mevlut Cavusoglu speaks during a visit of the booth of Turkey at the tourism fair ITB in Berlin, Germany, Wednesday, March 8, 2017.

Turkey-Dutch relations take dip after Turkish visit banned

ROTTERDAM, Netherlands – Turkey and the Netherlands sharply escalated a dispute between the two NATO allies on Saturday as the Dutch blocked a campaign visit by the Turkish foreign minister, prompting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to call them “fascists.” The Netherlands withdrew the landing permission for Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu because of objections to his intention to rally in Rotterdam for a Turkish referendum on constitutional reforms to expand presidential powers, which the Dutch see as a step backward from democracy.

The Latest: Pro-Turkey protest outside Rotterdam consulate

The Dutch government on Saturday withdrew landing permission for the Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu’s aircraft, draw… . The Foreign Minister of Turkey Mevlut Cavusoglu speaks during a visit of the booth of Turkey at the tourism fair ITB in Berlin, Germany, Wednesday, March 8, 2017.

The Latest: Rutte calls Turkish ‘fascists’ remark ‘crazy’

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addresses his supporters in Istanbul, Saturday, March 11, 2017. The Dutch government on Saturday withdrew landing permission for the Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu’s aircraft, drawing the ire of the Turkish president and escalating a diplomatic dispute between the two NATO allies over campaigning for a Turkish referendum on constitutional reform.

The Latest: Organizers of canceled Dutch rally urge calm

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addresses his supporters in Istanbul, Saturday, March 11, 2017. The Dutch government on Saturday withdrew landing permission for the Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu’s aircraft, drawing the ire of the Turkish president and escalating a diplomatic dispute between the two NATO allies over campaigning for a Turkish referendum on constitutional reform.

Syria Kurdish-led fighters see force boosting in push on IS

The main Syrian Kurdish force fighting Islamic State militants in northern Syria claimed on Friday that it has enough fighters to take the extremists’ de facto capital of Raqqa with the help of the U.S.-led coalition – remarks that reflected a veiled warning to Ankara and also to rival, Turkey-backed opposition forces making headway toward the city. The comments by Cihan Sheikh Ehmed, the spokeswoman of the Syria Democratic Forces, came as U.S. troops are playing a bigger role on the ground in the battle to conquer Raqqa in northern Syria.

White House: Trump unaware of Flynn’s foreign agent work

President Donald Trump was not aware that his former national security adviser, Michael Flynn, had worked to further the interests of the government of Turkey before appointing him, the White House says. The comments came two days after Flynn and his firm, Flynn Intel Group Inc., filed paperwork with the Justice Department formally identifying him as a foreign agent and acknowledging that his work for a company owned by a Turkish businessman could have aided Turkey’s government.

White House: Trump unaware of Flynn’s foreign agent work

In this Feb. 13, 2017 file photo, Mike Flynn arrives for a news conference in the East Room of the White House in Washington. Flynn, President Donald Trump’s former national security adviser, who was fired from the White House last month, has registered as a foreign agent with the Justice Department for work that may have aided the Turkish government in exchange for $530,000.

The Latest: Syrian Kurds see force boosting in push on IS

The Latest on the developments related to Syria’s civil war and the expected push against the Islamic State group’s main stronghold of Raqqa in northern Syria : U.S.-backed Syrian Kurdish forces say they have enough fighters to take the Islamic State group’s de facto capital of Raqqa in northern Syria. The spokeswoman for the Syrian Democratic Forces said on Friday that their numbers are increasing, with residents of areas newly liberated from IS joining the ethnically mixed force.

Purged from Turkey’s army, officers seek asylum in Belgium

In this Saturday, July 16, 2016 file photo, Turkish soldiers secure Istanbul’s Taksim square, as supporters of Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan protest in Istanbul. In the wake of last year’s coup in Turkey, scores of military officers are seeking asylum in Belgium and elsewhere in Europe.

Turkey Urges Bulgaria Not to Restrict Political Rights of Minorities

Turkey urged Bulgaria on March 09, not to restrict political rights of minorities and to comply with the “rule-based” European system, in reference to a recent law legislated by the Bulgarian parliament that restricts the number of ballot boxes to be established in Turkey to 35, according to HA1 4rriyet Daily News. “We call upon the Republic of Bulgaria to abandon such practices which are intended to restrict the political rights of minorities in the country and are fundamentally contrary to the European rule-based system,” announced the Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesperson HA1 4seyin MA1 4ftA1 4oAYlu.

The Latest: Turkey to extend state of emergency further

Turkey’s prime minister says a state of emergency that was imposed following the failed coup attempt in July will be extended “for a bit longer.” Turkey declared the state of emergency to facilitate its crackdown on the network of followers of U.S.-based Muslim Cleric Fethullah Gulen, whom Turkey accuses of orchestrating the July 15 failed attempt.

Germany hopeful relations with Turkey can normalize

Germany’s foreign minister says he hopes a meeting with his Turkish counterpart will help bring relations between the two countries back to normal after tempers flared in the past week. Diplomatic relations have taken a dive since Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused Germany of “Nazi practices” after several German municipalities canceled events where Turkish government ministers were to address rallies in support of a national referendum that would give Erdogan more powers.

Turkish, US, Russian military chiefs discuss Syria tensions

The top generals from Turkey, the United States and Russia met Tuesday in Turkey to discuss mutual suspicions over northern Syria military operations, as Russia’s military announced a two-week long cease-fire between rebels and the government in the suburbs of the Syrian capital, Damascus. The Russian military said a cease-fire has been in place since Tuesday, March 6, and will extend until March 20, for the Eastern Ghouta region outside Damascus, but activists reported a number of airstrikes and artillery strikes by government forces, killing two civilians.

Turkish Stream, Akkuyu NPP high on agenda at Moskow-Ankara talks

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan will discuss the implementation of projects on building the first Turkish nuclear power plant Akkuyu and the construction of the Turkish Stream gas pipeline during the meeting in Moscow scheduled for March 10. “The agenda, in particular, includes the implementation of joint projects to build the first Turkish nuclear power plant Akkuyu and the construction of the Turkish Stream gas pipeline,” RIA Novosti reported with reference to the Kremlin statement. In addition, the leaders of the countries “will discuss the entire complex of issues of Russian-Turkish relations with an emphasis on further restoring mutually beneficial trade and economic ties.”

Syrian government forces take over positions from U.S.-backed militia in northern Syria

News selected on topics and regions – oil and gas, business, politics, IT, the South Caucasus, the Caspian Sea region, Central Asia Ranking of the Azerbaijani banking sector Syrian government forces have taken over positions from a U.S.-backed militia in the northern city of Manbij on part of a frontline with Turkish-backed rebel forces, in line with a deal brokered by Russia, the militia’s spokesman said on Monday, Reuters reported. “The handover has taken place..,” Sharfan Darwish, the spokesman for the Manbij Military Council, told Reuters.

Turkey plans more pro-Erdogan rallies, German concerns mount

Turkey said on Saturday it would keep holding rallies in Germany and the Netherlands to urge Turks living there to back a vote to boost President Tayyip Erdogan’s powers, despite opposition from authorities in both countries. Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu criticised German and Dutch restrictions on such gatherings as undemocratic, and said Turkey would press on with them in the run-up to the April 16 referendum.

German Justice Minister pens letter to Bozdag over meeting ban

German Justice Minister has penned a letter to Turkish Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag over Berlin’s decision to ban Turkish ministers from holding events in two German cities ahead of the April 16 constitutional referendum that will decide whether the current parliamentary system should be shifted to an executive presidency. Maas sent the sharply worded letter after bozdag canceled their scheduled meeting for March 9. “When journalists, judges and attorneys are arrested simply because they are doing their jobs, simply because they are fulfilling their role in a constitutional state, then each arrest marks a degradation of the rule of law,” he wrote.

Akfen Working With Morgan Stanley, Goldman on Asset Sales an hour ago

Turkey’s Akfen Group is in talks with banks including Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs Group Inc. to advise on the sale of assets after completing its restructuring this month. The Ankara-based company is also in discussions with Credit Suisse Group AG and Deutsche Bank AG to find potential buyers for its overall holding businessAkfen Holding AS or stakes in individual companies such as Mersin International Port and renewable energy producer Akfen Yenilenebilir Enerji AS, Akfen Group Chairman Hamdi Akin said.

Aerosmitha s Buck Johnson to perform at Sweetwater

Buck Johnson has shared the stage with the likes of Aerosmith and written for artists like Carlos Santana, but for the keyboardist, there’s nothing like performing his own music. “To play for a handful of people or thousands of people, makes no difference,” says Johnson on the phone from Nashville, Tennessee, where he lives.

Pakistan hosts 10-nation regional economic summit

Participants in a regional economic summit agreed Wednesday to collectively fight the challenge of terrorism and push for greater collaboration in the areas of trade, energy and infrastructure development. Islamabad hosted the day-long 10-nation Economic Cooperation Organization summit to finalize a “Vision 2025” plan for expanding trade and prosperity among member nations.