Government of Turkey

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday Ankara will send the 3.6 million Syrian refugees in Turkey to Europe if European countries label the country's military incursion in Syria as an occupation.

"We will open the gates and send 3.6 million refugees your way," Erdogan said in speech to lawmakers from his AK Party. [Reuters]

The American Hellenic Institute (AHI) has issued a statement condemning the "rapid escalation" of Turkey's presence inside Cyprus' exclusive economic zone, while urging Washington "to demonstrate its will to punish Turkey for its illegal activity."

Turkey's preparations and deployments for its planned military offensive in northeastern Syria are continuing, broadcaster NTV cited Defence Minister Hulusi Akar as saying on Wednesday.

The Turkish parliament on Oct. 8 ratified a motion, extending the state's authority, to launch cross-border military operations in northern Iraq and Syria for another year. 
The motion came ahead of Turkey's planned safe zone operation in northern Syria. 

Turkey wants to "deepen and diversify" bilateral relations with Serbia, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Oct. 7.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic welcomed his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Belgrade on Monday as the two leaders announced that Belgrade and Ankara will upgrade their cooperation on defence as well as sealing a series of other agreements.

Turkey will open a consulate general in Serbia's Novi Pazar city, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced on Oct. 7.

The main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) spokesperson Faik Öztrak on Oct. 7 slammed the government's decision to launch a new military operation into the east of Euphrates River in northern Syria.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Oct. 7 confirmed that the U.S. troops started withdrawing from positions in northern Syria and pledged to secure the border.

As the government scrambles to respond to increasing pressure on the Aegean islands amid a spike in arrivals of irregular migrants from Turkey, plans are in the works to offer compensation to local authorities that shoulder the burden of some 20,000 transfers to the mainland over the coming months.