Tayyip Erdogan

Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan said he will seek the removal at a summit with the EU on Monday of all obstacles to a stalled membership bid, which the bloc however believes are of Ankara's own making.

Turkey will ask the European Union about the remainder of 3 billion euro ($3.69 billion) funding granted for Syrian refugees living in Turkey during the meeting in the Bulgarian city of Varna next week, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday.

The EU term president, Bulgaria's Prime Minister Boyko Borisov, will host Turkish President Tayyip Erdoğan, European Council President Donald Tusk and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker in a meeting on March 26 in the Bulgarian Black Sea port of Varna, Hurriyet writes.

The European Union's executive is due to approve a further 3 billion euros in funding for Syrian refugees living in Turkey, EU officials said, ahead of a meeting with President Tayyip Erdogan later this month. 

A Greek court on Tuesday rejected a request by Ankara for the extradition of a man wanted over links to a banned militant group blamed for suicide bombings in Turkey, court officials said.

Preparations are under way for Russian President Vladimir Putin, Turkish President Tayyip Erdoğan and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani to meet in April in Turkey, RIA news agency said on Feb. 19.

An Ankara prosecutor has decided not to proceed against President Tayyip Erdoğan’s close circle—including his brother, his son and his executive assistant—over the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) claim that millions of dollars flowed between Erdoğan’s close circle and an offshore company, state-run Anadolu Agency has reported.

 A Turkish army helicopter was shot down by Syrian Kurdish YPG fighters near the north Syrian town of Afrin, President Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday and the Turkish military said two soldiers on board the aircraft died, according to Reuters. 

YPG sources separately confirmed the downing of the helicopter.

Turkey will no longer buy defense systems, software or products from abroad “except in emergencies,” President Tayyip Erdoğan said on Feb. 6, vowing to develop entirely “native and national” military systems.

 Turkey has so far detained 573 people for social media posts and protests criticizing its military offensive in Syria, the government said on Monday, quoted by Reuters.

The crackdown, which has extended to the national medical association, has deepened concerns about free speech under President Tayyip Erdogan, who has criticized opponents of the military intervention as "traitors".