Eastern Mediterranean

The call for entries for the Diaspora International Short Film Festival, scheduled from August 27-29 in Istanbul, Turkey, opened on June 14. 

Organized by the Bosphorus Culture and Arts Foundation, the festival aims to bring a new perspective to the culture and art life not only in Turkey but also in diaspora communities in different countries.

Based on mutual respect, relations between Turkey and Egypt will progress gradually, said Egypt's foreign minister late on June 12. 

Speaking to Egypt's Sada El-Balad TV, Samih Shukri said relations with Turkey are being addressed on the basis of "non-interference in internal affairs, mutual respect and interest."

Any opportunity to reduce import dependence will be considered a big success, and Turkey's latest natural gas discovery cumulating in 540 billion cubic meters of reserves will help, according to Thomas Purdie, a research analyst at Wood Mackenzie.

 Israeli officials have voiced interest in making a series of investment in the development of sea and inland transportation around the Port of Constanta and on the waterway of the Danube corridor, according to Chairman of the Romania Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIR), Mihai Daraban. According to him, Romania can thus become a hub for Israeli goods to the European Community.

The main opposition leader has stressed that Turkish Cyprus should be recognized as an independent and respected state in the world on a visit to the island after the election of Ersin Tatar as the president of the Turkish Cypriots.

Turkey and the United States might have differences on some issues, but the two NATO allies are on the same page regarding the continuation of cross-border assistance to Syrians, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield told a group of journalists on June 4.

Turkey's Cilvegözü border gate is the best option for the international community for delivering aid to Syrians at the moment, but more gates are required for assistance, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield has said during a visit to Turkey.

Turkish Cypriot President Ersin Tatar said May 31 there was a significant increase in votes for the far-right ultra-nationalist National Popular Front (ELAM) in the latest legislative elections in the Greek Administration of Southern Cyprus (GASC). 

The leader of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) was speaking to Anadolu Agency on the results of the polls held Sunday.

The fourth round of meetings on confidence-building measures between Turkish and Greek delegations concluded on May 27. 

The virtual meeting was held on May 26-27, in which both sides agreed to continue talks on confidence-building measures, the Turkish National Defense Ministry said in a statement.

The Turkey stage of the 15th Europa-Orient and East-West Friendship and Peace Rally, one of the world's leading automobile rallies, has set out for Turkey's Cappadocia from the capital city of Ankara.

Foreign Affairs Deputy Minister Faruk Kaymakcı bid farewell to the cars taking part in the rally from the Directorate for EU Affairs building in Ankara.