Latest News from Turkey

Venizelos to meet Turkish foreign minister in Thessaloniki

Greek Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos was expected to meet with Turkish Foreign Minister, Mevlut Cavusoglu, in Thessaloniki, northern Greece, on Friday.

The meeting was set to take place on the sidelines of the meeting of foreign ministers of BSEC member states.

Turkish economy had a ‘golden age’ between 2002-2007, says former economy tsar

Turkeyâs economy experienced a âgolden ageâ between 2002 and 2007 thanks to its robust maintenance of the independence of institutions adopting monetary policy, said Kemal DerviÅ, the economy minister in 2001-2002 responsible for launching Turkeyâs recovery from a huge financial crisis.

Turkey on threshold of becoming a high-income economy, but challenges remain: World Bank

Steady growth over recent decades has brought Turkey to the threshold of becoming a high-income economy, prosperity has been broadly shared across income groups, and the size of the middle-class has doubled, according to a new World Bank report, "Turkey's Transitions: Integration, Inclusion, Institutions." However, challenges remain, the report stressed.

Turkish FM due in Tehran to discuss regional developments

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu will travel to Iran on Dec. 17 to hold talks with his Iranian counterpart Mohammed Javad Zareef, the ministry has announced in a written statement.

Turkish arms exports up 20 percent

Turkey's defense exports for the first 11 months of 2014 increased by 20 percent compared to the same period last year, hitting $1.5 billion, according to figures from the Turkish Exporters' Assembly released on Dec. 11.

Local activists call for review of Ilısu Dam construction amid Kurdish peace process

Local activists have called on the government to review a contentious, long-planned new dam project on the Tigris in southeastern Turkey, which will flood the ancient city of Hasankeyf.

Oil deal in Iraq should be example for Cyprus: Turkish President Erdoğan

The recent internal agreement between Baghdad and Arbil should set an example for sharing potential energy resources off Cyprus, Turkish President Recep Tayyip ErdoÄan has said, vowing that Turkey will never abandon the rights of Turkish Cypriots in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Turkey slams CIA torture in post-9/11 era, after Senate report

Turkey has condemned the torture committed by the CIA against terrorism suspects in the post-Sept. 11 era, following the recent release of a report issued by the U.S. Senate's Intelligence Committee.

Turkish Stream to Replace South Stream Gas Pipeline- Erdogan

The new gas pipeline which may replace the South Stream gas pipeline may be called "Turkish Stream", according to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Erdogan, as cited by RIA Novosti, announced Wednesday that the name had been proposed by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Egypt imposes travel restrictions for Turkey, Libya

Egypt has imposed restrictions on male citizens traveling to Turkey and war-torn Libya to stop them joining jihadist organizations like the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), a security official said Dec. 10.

Turkey condemns Israel over death of Palestinian minister

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan condemned Israeli actions that led to the death of Palestinian minister Ziad Abu Ein on Dec. 10, reiterating Turkey's support for the Palestinians against "inhuman and outrageous actions."

"I deplore and condemn this despicable Israeli act," Erdoğan said in an online statement from the official website of presidency on Dec. 10.