International relations

On the International Day of Commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust, Deputy Foreign Minister Georg Georgiev, who is visiting Canada, held meetings at the Center for Israel and Jewish Affairs in Ottawa where he talked with the Chief Executive Officer of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affair Shimon Fogel and the Vice President of Foreign Affairs and Chief Executive Richard Marce

The strong earthquake that hit Turkey could thaw the recently frosty relationship between the two neighbors, making a rapprochement with Greece possible, if certain leaders want it.

Relations among countries always evolve in certain environments. And the tragedy that's hit the neighboring creatres such a new, yet familiar, one.

The United States introduces visa restrictions for pregnant women. The measure aims at restricting "birth tourism," in which women travel to the United States to give birth so their children can have U.S. citizenship. 

Women applying for a tourist visa will be denied if consular officials deem that they want to go to the US to give birth.

The United States has imposed new sanctions on Iran today, Reuters quoted as referring to the US Treasury Department's website.

The subject of the new sanctions are two individuals and six international companies, including four companies that work with the National Iranian Oil Company.

Turkey's foreign minister has reiterated a proposal to establish a NATO-lead committee to review possible threats to the alliance from Turkey's purchase of a Russian-made missile defense system.

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said on Jan. 21 Turkey is crucial in the fight against ISIL.

"No ally has suffered more terrorist attacks than Turkey. They are important in the fight against Daesh. They are the only ally which is bordering Syria and Iraq," he said, using the Arabic acronym for ISIL.

Stoltenberg's remarks came during a speech at the European Parliament in Brussels.

Eight European Union member states have decided to set up a naval surveillance mission in the Strait of Hormuz, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell announced on Jan. 20 after a meeting of the bloc's foreign ministers.

Athens on Thursday reacted to remarks by Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu earlier in the day in which he reiterated his country's claims regarding "grey zones" of undetermined sovereignty in the Aegean Sea.

Britain's ambassador to Iran is to return to the U.K. for a "long-planned visit," British authorities said.

"Ambassador Rob Macaire is returning to the U.K. today [Jan. 15] on a long-planned visit," the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) said.

Some circles are seeking to use the Armenian allegations over the events of 1915 to create divisions within the Turkish community, the country's communications director said Jan. 14.

Fahrettin Altun's remarks came after a meeting of the High Advisory Board under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in the capital Ankara.