İbrahim Kalın

Turkish Presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin will be taking part in exploratory contacts between Greece and Turkey that resume Monday at Istanbul's Swissotel, Kathimerini reports.

The involvement of Kalin, a close associate of Recep Tayyip Erdogan, is seen as marking the Turkish strongman's indirect presence at the talks.

US Secretary of State nominee Antony Blinken gave a first inkling about the stance the Biden administration will take regarding Turkey in the hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. His approach was clearly critical; however, the relationship is complex and any conclusions would be premature.

Senior Turkish and U.S. officials discussed bilateral ties and regional issues in a phone call on Jan. 19. 

Turkey's Presidential Spokesperson Ibrahim Kalın spoke to outgoing U.S. National Security Adviser Robert C. O'Brien over the phone and discussed Turkey-U.S. relations and regional issues, according to a statement.

Prosecutors in Istanbul have launched a probe into Professor Ebubekir Sofuoğlu after his remarks labelling the country's universities as "brothels" caused public outrage.

Earlier this week, Sofuoğlu from Sakarya University's History Department, on a TV show criticized Generation Z and dismissed the view that universities contribute to the cities where they are located.

The EU leaders should comprehend the strategic importance of the bloc's relations with Turkey and should not allow any initiative that would hinder ties, Turkey's presidential spokesman said on Dec. 11.

Senior Turkish officials met on Nov. 29 with the spiritual leaders of minority communities and representatives of minority foundations.

A probe has been launched into Republican People's Party (CHP) lawmaker Ali Mahir Başarır over his remarks regarding the Turkish army, the chief public prosecutor's office in Ankara announced on Nov. 30.

"The army was sold," Başarır said on private broadcaster Habertürk on Nov. 28, criticizing the government over the privatization of a national tank factory.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Nov. 26 welcomed Qatar's Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani with an official ceremony in the capital Ankara.

Al Thani arrived in Ankara to attend the sixth meeting of the Turkey-Qatar Supreme Strategic Committee.

He was welcomed by a ceremony at the presidential complex, and the two leaders met one-to-one following the event.

The anticipated suspension on November 29 of the activities of the Oruc Reis seismic vessel within parts of the Greek continental shelf after having scanned the entire area it had reserved since August is being touted by Ankara as a goodwill move ahead of the European Council in December 10-11, where one of the main topics of discussion will be the possibility of imposing sanctions on Turkey ov

The normalization process will not be about abandoning measures all together but we have to adapt to the new normal, Turkey's presidential spokesperson said on May 23. 

"We need to get used to living with masks. Turkey will go down to history when this coronavirus pandemic is over and it is written down," Ibrahim Kalın said on local television station NTV.