Turkey – Pagina 13 – European Affairs Magazine

Head of a Turkish weapons factory in jail for trying to sell designs and plans to the U.S.

30 Dicembre 2016 BreakingNews @en di

A Turkish weapons factory head was sentenced to nearly 13 years in prison on Dec. 29 for trying to sell Turkish weapons designs to a U.S. company. He was found guilty of trying to sell design and production plans for an MP-5 sub-machine gun for $70,000 and a MPT-76 national infantry rifle for $300,000 to an official working for a U.S. firm. The MPT-76, using the Turkish acronym for “national infantry rifle,” is designed and produced by the government-owned Mechanical and Chemical Industry Corporation or MKEK. The MPT-76 has also seen demand from countries including not only United States but also Chile and Azerbaijan. Its rifle passed 42 NATO tests, becoming the first rifle to pass the test without a mistake.

Possible expansion of the cease-fire between government and opposition groups to all of Syria

29 Dicembre 2016 BreakingNews @en di

Turkey and Russia are close to brokering a new agreement that would expand a cease-fire between the government and opposition groups to all of Syria. Turkey and Russia have already secured the safe evacuation of civilians and fighters from eastern Aleppo two weeks ago and have been working to expand the cease-fire that is going to be discuss in Astana. There are still talks ongoing on who will participate in the Astana talks. The Minister stated that terror organizations would be excluded from the cease-fire. He also added that the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) would not attend the Astana talks. The PYD is considered a terror organization by Turkish government due to its link to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), with which it has been fighting against since mid-1980s.

U.S. led-coalition has given support to terrorist groups, according to President Erdogan

29 Dicembre 2016 BreakingNews @en di

The Turkish President Erdogan during a press conference in Ankara, said it was clear that U.S.-led coalition forces have given support to terrorist groups, including the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and Syrian Kurdish forces. The evidence would be clear thanks to pictures, photos and videos. The U.S State Department rejected as “ludicrous” the accusations by Erdoğan that the U.S.-led coalition supported ISIL, underlining instead the support given to the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). Erdoğan also accused the coalition forces of not supporting Turkey in its campaign to liberate northern Syria town of al-Bab from ISIL militants. According to him they would not keep their promises.

World Bank approved $400 million loan for Turkey and Azerbaijan

22 Dicembre 2016 BreakingNews @en/Middle East - Africa di

The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors today approved a $400 million loan for Turkey and a $400 million loan for Azerbaijan for the Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP) Project, according to WB website. “We are very pleased to be part of a coalition of partners supporting TANAP, a component of the transformational Southern Gas Corridor, which will bring natural gas from the Caspian Sea to Europe,” said Cyril Muller, World Bank Vice President for Europe and Central Asia. “TANAP will not only boost competitiveness and create economic opportunities for people in Azerbaijan and Turkey, it will also support regional trade, improve connectivity, and support energy security in Turkey and in Europe.”

Azerbaijani FM Mammadyarov received Deputy FM of Turkey

22 Dicembre 2016 BreakingNews @en/Middle East - Africa di

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov on Wednesday received Deputy Foreign Minister of Turkey Umit Yalcin. Umit Yalcin expressed gratitude to Minister Mammadyarov for Azerbaijan’s resolute stance with regard to the recent developments in Turkey. The sides stressed the importance of increasing joint anti-terrorism efforts by Azerbaijan and Turkey. They also praised the Azerbaijani-Turkish cooperation and the two countries’ supporting each other’s positions within the international organizations.

Situation between Turkey and Russia has been fully restored

7 Dicembre 2016 BreakingNews @en/Middle East - Africa di

On Tuesday, after a meeting with his Turkish counterpart, Binali Yildirim, Russian Prime Minister, Dmitry Medvedev, affirmed that a settlement of the ongoing conflict in Syria is one of the priority tasks for both Russia and Turkey. Medvedev noted that the dialogue on the situation in Syria between Russia and Turkey has been fully restored and it will continue. Yildirim said that the Syrian conflict settlement requires the dialogue and coordinated efforts otherwise undesirable consequences could ensue. The Turkish Prime Minister noted that relations between Moscow and Ankara had undergone a difficult period but, he added, Turkey had been recently maintaining productive relations with Russia on the Syrian issue both at the diplomatic and military levels. The Prime Minister of Turkey also appreciated the contribution of Russia’s Prime Minister to steps for normalization of bilateral ties, starting from this August. Medvedev also added that Russia and Turkey have the potential for boosting bilateral trade and economic ties, including via the implementation of big projects.

The construction of offshore segment of Turkish Stream gas pipeline will start in 2017

7 Dicembre 2016 BreakingNews @en/Energy/Middle East - Africa di

On Tuesday, Chief Executive Officer of Gazprom, Alexei Miller, affirmed that the construction of an offshore segment of Turkish Stream gas pipeline will start in the second half of the next year. The construction of offshore segment of Turkish Stream gas pipeline will start in 2017. He added that both lines, the first one and the second one, will be put into service by 2019 year-end. Miller also said that the feasibility study of entry points of Turkish Stream gas pipeline to EU territory is close to its completion and the Turkish-Greek border is the priority destination. The Russian authorities announced the launch of the Turkish Stream pipeline in December 2014 as an alternative to the South Stream gas pipeline project. It was planned that the offshore section of the Turkish Stream gas pipeline would comprise four stretches with a capacity of 15.75 billion cubic meters each.

Syrian opposition might cooperate with Russia to end the fighting in Aleppo

2 Dicembre 2016 BreakingNews @en/Defence/Middle East - Africa di

According four anonymous source, cited by Financial Times, leaders of the Syrian opposition are holding negotiations with Russian representatives to end the fighting in Aleppo. The US is allegedly not aware of the talks. The talks are taking place in Ankara, brokered by Turkey, and Washington is not participating in the negotiations, the sources told to the international daily. The sources added that it is not the first time that the Syrian opposition has met with the Russian side, but it is unprecedented that so many rebel groups would participate in the negotiations. On Thursday, Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, said that Russia and Turkey are constantly in touch with various groups in Syria. Lavrov also noted that Russia called to set up contacts with armed Syrian opposition groups during the Lausanne talks a month ago.

President Erdogan explained his statements on President Abbas to his counterpart Vladimir Putin

2 Dicembre 2016 BreakingNews @en/Middle East - Africa di

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan explained his comments about a plan to topple Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in a phone call with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, the RIA news agency cited Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov as saying on Thursday. Erdogan said earlier this week his forces in Syria were there to topple Assad, a statement which came as a surprise to Moscow. Ushakov gave no details about what kind of explanation Erdogan provided.

Turkey and Russia have different vews on the regime in Syria

1 Dicembre 2016 BreakingNews @en di

Turkish President Reccep Tayyip Erdogan fuelled Russia’s reservations concerning Ankara’s goals in Syria. In a speech he gave at a conference in Istanbul the Turkish President stated that “the reason for the presence of the Turkish Armed Forces in Syria is to overthrow the tyrant Bashar Al Assad who exercises state terrorism. We did not intrude for any other reason.” This statement provoked an immediate reaction from Moscow which supports the Syria regime.

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Turkey - page 13