Recep Tayyip Erdoğan

Terrorism, deterrence and the future of transatlantic relations will top the agenda of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly talks in Turkey next week, the North Atlantic Alliance said in a statement on Nov. 17.

In a press conference before taking off for Pakistan on Nov. 16, Turkish President Tayyip Erdoğan said he was for a system where the president could keep his (or her) position as the leader - or at least as a member of his or her party.

Turkish President Recep Erdogan may remain at his post until 2029 if the powers of the executive are increased.

This is envisaged in the newest version of the project for constitutional amendments drafted by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) to be submitted to a referendum next spring.

Turkey is seeking to recruit more than 30,000 new personnel to fill shortfalls after thousands were kicked out of the army in the wake of the failed July 15 coup attempt.

The state-run Anadolu Agency said the armed forces were aiming to recruit 30,159 personnel in order to meet needs in the aftermath of the post-coup dismissals.

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan reiterated his long-standing demand for the release of Egypt's former leader Mohamed Morsi after an Egyptian court overturned a death sentence against the ousted president and ordered re-trial.   

Claims about the role of the U.S.-based Islamic preacher Fethullah Gülen in Turkey's foiled coup attempt on July 15 are "not total nonsense," European Commission First Vice-President Frans Timmermans has said.

Pakistan has ordered Turkish teachers at schools with alleged links to the U.S.-based Islamic preacher Fethullah Gülen to leave the country, as it prepared to host President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. 
The teachers and their families, totaling roughly 450 people, were given three days' notice to leave, PakTurk International Schools and Colleges said in a statement late on Nov. 15. 

A top Turkish government official recently met with Attorney General Loretta Lynch and told her the prosecution of Turkish-Iranian businessman Reza Zarrab was "based on no evidence," according to a court filing unsealed on Nov. 15. 

The president should retain links with his political party because an impartial head of state causes "weakness in legislative activities," President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has said, speaking after the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) delivered its draft for a new constitution to the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP).  

Kemal Ökem, chief adviser on foreign policy to the prime minister, will be Turkey's first ambassador to Israel after a six-year split, according to state-run Anadolu Agency.