Recep Tayyip Erdogan

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan reiterated on Sept. 11 his government's commitment to eliminating the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in Syria and the threat the group poses to Turkey, saying the struggle against the jihadists was the government's "obligation to the Turkish people." 

Russia plans to sign an agreement with Turkey next month on the implementation of the Turkish Stream gas export pipeline project, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak was quoted as saying on Sept. 10.

Russia plans to sign an agreement with Turkey next month on the implementation of the Turkish Stream gas export pipeline project, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak was quoted as saying on Sept. 10.

Turkey, which has sent dozens of tanks and hundreds of troops into Syria as part of the Euphrates Shield operation, on Sept. 10 welcomed a deal agreed by the United States and Russia for a cease-fire in its conflict-torn neighbor.

When the state of emergency (OHAL) was declared, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan himself said it would "absolutely not be used as a practice against democracy, the law and freedoms. On the contrary, it aims to protect and strengthen these values." 

Turkey is within its rights in defending itself by staging an incursion in Syria, according to NATO's secretary-general, who is staging a visit to Ankara.

Justice Minister Bekir Bozdağ and U.S. Ambassador to Turkey John Bass discussed the extradition of U.S.-based Islamic preacher Fethullah Gülen, the self-exiled Islamic preacher accused by Ankara of masterminding the failed military coup attempt, private broadcaster CNN Türk reported on Sept. 9.

The meeting, which went on for 1.5 hours, reportedly took place upon the request of Bass.

The United States and Russia grappled over a possible cease-fire deal for Syria on Sept. 9 ahead of the Eid al-Adha starting on Sept. 12, as resurgent Moscow-backed regime forces tightened the noose on the beleaguered city of Aleppo.     

Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu has slammed the government for taking indiscriminate post-coup attempt measures and carrying out a "witch hunt" against independent media, academics and teachers in Turkey. 

The first passenger plane in 13 months has landed at Selahaddin Eyyubi Airport in the Yüksekova district of the eastern province of Hakkari, following a long hiatus due to clashes between the Turkish state and the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), state-run Anadolu Agency has reported.