Western Asia

The assessment in the title line does not belong to this columnist, but has been cherished in this column since a Turkey specialist realistically put it in a Reuters analysis a couple of years earlier.

Greece and Kuwait marked 50 years of diplomatic relations on Thursday by signing two agreements, one regarding investments and the other tourism.

The deals were signed by Greek Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos and his Kuwaiti counterpart Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, who also met President Karolos Papoulias and Prime Minister Antonis Samaras.

Western countries that backed the revolt in Syria have started to shift their positions because of the danger posed to them by jihadists, according to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

“The United States and the West have started to send signs of change. Terrorism is now on their soil,” said al-Assad, according to remarks published in a Lebanese newspaper.

49 Turkish employees, including Turkey's consul general, have been kidnapped by the militants of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul. Soldiers from Turkish Special Forces and children of diplomats are reportedly among the hostages

With President Dr. Derviş Eroğlu repeatedly denying that talks with the Greek Cypriot side were in a deadlock and even Greek Cypriot opinion makers accusing Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Anastasiades of becoming a “conservative Christofias” interested only in stalling tactics, a paper stressed the peace dividend would radically change communal and individual prospects.

Turkey hosts Balkan youth to boost interaction

A new initiative would tell Turkey's story to future leaders of Balkan countries.

Thirty-seven young people from across the Balkans gathered in Turkey last month to participate in a youth conference in order to boost interaction between Turkey and the Balkan countries.

Iran’s investment interest in Turkey is rising, as it provides a route to break into the global economy, Aegean-Iran Cooperation Association has said to Anadolu Agency in İzmir.

Turkish Minister Yazıcı (C), Undersecretary of South Korean Customs Administration Baek Un-chan (L) and his Turkish counterpart pose at the ceremony. Turkey moved to develop its multi-billion dollar bilateral trade with South Korea yesterday by signing a deal to harmonize their customs systems – the first such deal between the Asian nation and a European country.

Turkey is planning to open its first diplomatic representation in the Pacific Islands, the foreign minister has said, vowing that the country’s interest to the region will continue to increase.

The Chambers of Commerce from Turkey, Greece and Turkish and Greek Cyprus announced the creation of the joint commerce forum, namely the “Nicosia Economic Forum,” last Monday in Cyprus. This was their first meeting since 1974.