Recep Tayyip

The top Turkish and Russian diplomats met on Dec. 29 to discuss international issues and help prepare for a meeting of the two countries' presidents.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has reiterated his criticism of a verdict by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) that urges Turkey for the immediate release of Selahattin Demirtaş, former co-leader of the People's Democratic Party (HDP), stating that the court's decision is not in line with its other rulings for other countries.

The Ankara State Art and Sculpture Museum, home to some of the most valuable works of Turkish art history, reopened after a year-long restoration with a ceremony on Dec. 28.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said that 4,440 artworks have been brought back to the country in the last 18 years.

Over the last 18 years, Turkey's AKP governments have brought back some 4,440 artifacts to the land where they belong, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Dec. 28. 

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the State Museum of Paintings and Sculptures in the capital Ankara, Erdoğan said Turkey embraces everything which belongs to its land as part of its wealth.

The landmark Turkey-U.K. free trade agreement set to be signed on Dec. 29 will usher a new era in bilateral economic and trade ties starting Jan. 1, Turkey's trade minister said on Dec. 28. 

"This new era in our relations will be mutually beneficial for both Turkey and the U.K.," Ruhsar Pekcan tweeted.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Dec. 28 Turkey would receive the first batch of COVID-19 vaccines
developed by China's Sinovac this week.

Turkey has agreed to buy 50 million doses of Sinovac's CoronaVac and had expected delivery by Dec. 11, but the shipment has faced delays.

It has been 84 years since the passing of Mehmet Akif Ersoy, a Turkish poet, author, academic, member of parliament, and the writer of the Turkish National Anthem, in 1936, leaving behind an immortal piece sung by generations of citizens of modern Turkey.

Hosting the most valuable works of Turkish art history, the Ankara State Painting and Sculpture Museum reopens after nearly a year of restoration.

The opening will take place today with a ceremony attended by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

Turkey and the European Union have taken some steps mutually attempting to create a positive environment to maintain relations, Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said on Dec. 24.

"With some mutual steps taken recently, we are trying to create a more positive atmosphere," Çavuşoğlu said, addressing staff of the Turkish Accreditation Agency (TURKAK).

Devlet Bahçeli, the head of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), and Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu have slammed a verdict by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) on the release of the former co-leader of the People's Democratic Party (HDP), Selahattin Demirtaş, who they both has categorized as a "terrorist."