Latest News from Turkey

Cyprus UN envoy says economic crisis could aid peace deal


Cyprus's economic crisis could hasten a deal to end decades of enmity between the island's estranged Greeks and Turks, its outgoing United Nations envoy said on Thursday.

Reunification talks resumed between the two sides on February 11.

61 Illegal Immigrants Apprehended At Bulgaria's “Green” Border

Sixty-one illegal immigrants were apprehended at Bulgaria's “green” border with Turkey in the last 24 hours, Interior Ministry said. 

They are taken to the primary holding centers and are receiving medical attention. Later they will be processed in accordance with the legal requirements. 

Serbia wants trade ties with both Russia and EU

Serbia wants trade ties with both Russia and EU

BELGRADE -- PKS President Željko Sertić says Serbia has opted for the path to the European Union, but will continue economic cooperation with other countries.

Turkish Court Overrules Twitter Ban

The Ankara administrative court overruled the ban on the social platform Twitter. 

The restriction contradicts the rule of law principles - the court motivated its decision.

The court decision comes a day after the UN urged Turkey to lift the ban on Twitter because the limitation of civil liberties contradicts the international law. 

BNP Paribas to Withdraw from Ukraine

BNP Paribas, France's largest bank by market capitalization, has announced plans to pull back from Ukraine.

Its chief financial executive Lars Machenil however added BNP does not mull leaving other countries to the east of Europe, such as Turkey and Poland, website Investor.bg reports.

Montenegro tops tourism growth list

Montenegro tops tourism growth list

Tourism revenue in Montenegro is expected to grow more than 17 percent from last year. Also in business news: Turkey will begin to renegotiate its Customs Union Agreement with the EU by June.

Montenegro ranked first on the list of 184 countries expected to show tourism growth. [AFP]

Bulgaria Among Leaders In Alerts For Dangerous Goods

Bulgaria is in the Top 5 of EU countries with most alerts for dangerous products, shows data of the Rapid Alert System for non-food dangerous products RAPEX. 

Most alerts came from Hubgary – 12% of all, followed by Germany – 11%, Spain – 11%, Bulgaria – 8% and Great Britain – 6%. 

The complaints from Bulgaria were 191 – mostly for clothes of low quality, shows the RAPEX data. 

Turkey To Re-Negotiate Customs Union With EU

Turkey will bring up the customs union deal for re-negotiation with the European Union by June, Turkey's Economy Minister Nihat Zeybekci said.

“By June, we’re going to re-open for negotiation the Customs Union Agreement, to which no sovereign independent state should agree,” Zeybekci said at a meeting with Turkish businesspeople, quoted by Hurryiet Daily News. 

Turkey Shoots Down Syrian Warplane

Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkish fighter jets had shot down a Syrian warplane which had violated its airspace on Sunday.

Addressing his supporters at a rally on Sunday, Erdogan congratulated his air force on its actions on Sunday and vowed a harsh response to any violation of Turkey's airspace.

Bulgarian DefMin to Impose Penalties over Border Fence

Bulgaria's Defense Minister Angel Naydenov has decided to impose penalties on nine of his ministry's personnel.

The move is related to the series of miscalculations on the expenses for the construction of a border fence between Bulgaria and Turkey, Dariknews.bg reports.

Turkish President Gul Defies Erdogan's Move to Close Twitter

Turkey's President Abdullah Gul challenged on Friday the ban on Twitter imposed by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Gul himself used Twitter to express criticism, by posting on his account that "shutdown was unacceptable".

New Cocaine Route Passes Through Bulgaria

A new cocaine route for Europe goes through Bulgaria said the National Addictions and Drugs Center. 

According to its director Momchil Vasilev, in the past two years through Bulgaria was established a new drug channel, which takes cocaine from South America via Western Africa through Greece and Bulgaria, for Western Europe. 

Turkey Arrests Albanians After 'Terror’ Attack

Turkey's state-run Anadolu News Agency reported on Friday that Interior Minister Efkan Ala had said two of the arrested "terrorists" were Albanian nationals, while the third was from Kosovo. 

The shoot-out in the central Turkish province of Nigde on Thursday left three people dead, including a soldier and a police officer.

Pages