Omer Celik, the spokesperson for Turkey’s ruling AK Party, has reiterated Ankara’s demand for Greece to demilitarize its eastern Aegean islands. He issued a bellicose warning, stating that there would be consequences if Greece fails to comply. In an interview with Turkish broadcaster Haberturk following the meeting between the leaders …
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Mitsotakis-Erdogan hold first meeting after their re-election
A meeting between Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was held early Wednesday afternoon on the margins of the NATO Summit in Vilnius. t was the first meeting of the two leaders after their re-election. The meeting lasted 30 minutes including the time both translators needed, …
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Erdogan links Sweden’s NATO membership to Turkey’s EU accession
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, in an unexpected move, said on Monday the European Union should open the way for Ankara’s accession to the bloc before Turkey’s parliament approves Sweden’s bid to join the NATO military alliance. Turkey’s bid to join the EU has been frozen for years after membership talks …
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F-16s should not be used by Turkey to challenge Greek sovereignty, US Congressmen tell Blinken
Six members of the United States House of Representatives called on Secretary of State Antony Blinken to ensure that the new F-16 jets Turkye will receive from America will not be used for actions against Greece. In a letter to Blinken, the six said among others, “Given Turkey’s history of …
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Greek FM condemns party in historic Izmir church Saint Voukolos (videos)
Greece’s Foreign Ministry condemned a party with electronic music and alcohol drinks inside the historic Greek Orthodox Church of Saint Voukolos in the city of Izmir on the coast of western Turkey. İzmir'de tarihi kilisede parti yapıldı. — Aykırı (@aykiricomtr) July 8, 2023 The Church is being used as a …
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Erdogan criticizes Greece’s armaments program
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has voiced criticism of Greece’s armaments program, expressing his intention to address the issue with the next prime minister in Athens. During a press briefing on his return flight from Azerbaijan, Erdogan emphasized his willingness to discuss the matter with Kyriakos Mitsotakis, should he be …
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Two cargo vessels collide off Chios island; Turkish cargo rejects Greek SAR (video)
Two cargo vessels collided 9 nautical miles North-North-West of the island of Chios in the eastern Aegean Sea on Friday afternoon. While the Turkish vessel is taking water, its captain has refused aid by the Greek Coast Guard. The vessels with flags of Vanuatu -ANT- and Singapore – POTENTIA- have …
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Erdogan secures another 5 years as Turkey’s President
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan cemented his place in Turkish politics as the longest-serving leader with a runoff victory on Sunday against Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu As millions held their breath in the first runoff he faced, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan left his mark in the history of the Republic of Türkiye with another …
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Turkey faces election runoff as Erdogan, Kilicdaroglu below 50%
President Tayyip Erdogan’s opponents face an uphill struggle to end his two-decade rule of Turkey in a runoff vote on May 28 after he performed better than predicted in a first round of voting on Sunday but fell short of an outright majority. Turks woke on Monday to see support …
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Turkey elections: Last minute withdrawal of candidate Ince raises chances for Kilicdaroglu first-round victory.
In a shocking move just three days ahead of the Turkish presidential elections, candidate Muharrem Ince announced his withdrawal, citing a defamation campaign against him by FETÖ Muharrem Ince, head of the Homeland Party (MP) and one of the four candidates running for the Presidency in the May 14 elections, …
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Erdogan: “Turkey will continue to annoy Greece”
Turkey will continue to “annoy those on the other side of the sea,” president Recep Tayyip Erdogan, said in what is seen as a fresh swipe against Greece following a thaw in relations between the two countries. “You will have noticed that every success of our defense industry annoys the …
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Turkey escalates rhetoric threats on Greek islands, Thrace
Turkey continues its aggressive rhetoric and occupation threats against Greece, with both the foreign minister and the president to reiterate their claims on the sovereignty of the Greek islands in the Aegean Sea and even go a step further claiming a part of the mainland. Erdogan’s party AKP uploaded a …
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US approves upgrade of Turkey’s F-16s
The US Department of State announced Saturday it has decided to approve a sale of avionics software upgrades for Turkey’s existing F-16 fleet. The deal, valued at an estimated $259 million, is the first military equipment sale to Turkey in years. Turkey has also requested new F-16s and nearly 80 …
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“Earthquake Diplomacy” over: Turkey reiterates claims in the Aegean Sea
Famous “Earthquake Diplomacy” between Greece and Turkey did not last long – as not otherwise expected. Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu brought back on the agenda the Turkish claims questioning the Greek sovereignty over islands in the Aegean Sea. In an interview on Monday, the Turkish FM said that there are …
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Greek defense minister pays solidarity visit to earthquake-stricken Turkey
Greek National Defense Minister Nikos Panagiotopoulos visited earthquake-stricken areas in Turkey on Tuesday, after an invitation by his Turkish counterpart Hulusi Akar. At the country’s Disaster & Crisis Coordination & Management Center in Antakya (Antioch), Akar briefed the Greek minister on latest developments and the current situation. The two ministers …
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Erdogan to inaugurate Akkuyu nuclear plant, Putin may join
Turkey’s President Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin may visit Turkey on April 27 for the inauguration of the country’s first nuclear power reactor built by Russia’s state nuclear energy company Rosatom. “Maybe there is a possibility that Mr Putin will come on April 27, or …
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US Senator Menendez: Turkey doesn’t deserve to get F-16 jets
Bob Menendez, US Senator and Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, sharply criticized Turkey on its stance towards NATO enlargement, its relations with Greece and Cyprus, and its human rights record, saying it does not “deserve” to acquire new fighter jets from the United States. The comment was made …
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Turkish ambassador thanks EMAK for earthquake assistance
Turkish Ambassador to Athens Cagatay Erciyes visited the headquarters of Greece’s EMAK disaster response team in a gesture of gratitude for its assistance in the aftermath of February’s disastrous earthquake, the embassy said in a tweet Monday. The embassy said that the Turkish envoy, who was accompanied by Climate Crisis …
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Earthquake diplomacy: Turkey’s FM submits de-escalation proposal to Greece
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has submitted a six-point proposal to Greece with the aim to improve the bilateral relations following the earthquake disaster and Greece’s assistance and solidarity. The submitted plan was revealed by PM Mitsotakis’ Diplomatic Office Director media reported. Speaking to Greek journalists on Saturday, Cavusoglu praised …
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Earthquake Diplomacy: “New page” in Athens-Ankara relations, says Turkish FM
Τurkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu spoke of a “new page” in relations between Ankara and Athens, following the devastating earthquake and the prompt assistance by Greece. Speaking during a press conference in Ankara with visiting Israeli counterpart Eli Cohen, Cavusoglu sent a message of normalization of Turkey’s relations with the …
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