Turkey
How Paris attacks prompted tougher Greek migrant checks
In a tented courtyard in the migrant camp on Greece's Leros island, a dozen new arrivals await registration after two weeks in COVID-19 quarantine.
Turkey slams Cyprus over removal of ‘Ataturk praise’ from textbook
Turkey on Wednesday (8 September) "strongly condemned" an instruction by the Cypriot administration for English teachers to rip out a page in a textbook mentioning Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the Turkish Republic.
Turkey cannot take new refugee burden, foreign minister says
Turkey cannot take the burden of a new migrant wave from Afghanistan, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Sunday (29 August) after talks with his German counterpart, as concerns about a new migrant wave remain after the Taliban's taking of power.
Turkish troops leave Kabul, abandoning hopes for airport
Turkey said Wednesday (25 August) it had started pulling troops out of Afghanistan, apparently abandoning plans to help secure Kabul's strategic airport.
Turkish Cypriot leader says Nicosia is violating passport rights
Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar on Tuesday (24 August) criticised a decision by Greek Cypriot rivals to rescind his passport, saying the move was designed to undermine his community.
Cyprus says to strip passports from Turk Cypriot officials
The government of Cyprus said on Monday (23 August) it would revoke the passports from Turkish Cypriot officials in the breakaway state in the northern part of the island.
Pogroms attest of growing anti-Syrian sentiments in Turkey
Turkish police detained dozens of people on Thursday (12 August) after a mob of angry men smashed up shops and cars believed to belong to Syrian migrants in the capital Ankara.
Turkey wildfires death toll rises to eight
The death toll from wildfires in southern Turkey rose to eight following the discovery of two bodies on Sunday (1 August), officials said, as more people including tourists were evacuated to safety.
Blue Homeland: Turkey’s Strategy in the Eastern Mediterranean
The purpose of the Blue Homeland strategy is that Turkey should dominate the Mediterranean and reclaim the mercantile and maritime power once held by the Ottomans, writes Antonia Colibasanu.
Turkey courts Biden with Kabul airport offer
Turkey is offering to protect Kabul's strategic airport after US forces leave in what experts view as a high-risk bid to improve Ankara's strained ties with Washington.
Turkey detains over 200 migrants in Aegean
Turkey's coast guard has detained more than 200 migrants, including Afghans and Syrians, who were crossing the Aegean Sea on a fishing boat in an attempt to reach Greece, local media reported.
The Brief – Go home Erdogan
Cyprus is an excellent destination for holidays, but it is also a geopolitical volcano. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who doesn’t miss an opportunity to annoy the EU and infuriate Greece, is very active during this holiday season. Among other...
EU, US reject Erdogan’s plans for a two-state solution in Cyprus
Brussels and Washington have reacted strongly to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s decision to partially reopen a coastal resort town emptied of its original Greek Cypriot residents as well as his proposal for a two-state solution on Cyprus issue.
Turkish ship fires warning shots at Cyprus coastguard
A Turkish coastguard vessel fired warning shots Friday (16 July) at a Cyprus police boat on patrol for undocumented migrants near the line of control off the island's north coast, Cypriot media reported.
Women protest as Turkey quits violence-on-women treaty
Police fired tear gas at protesters in Istanbul demonstrating against Turkey's controversial exit on Thursday (1 July) from a treaty combatting femicide and domestic abuse.
EU presses Turkey to maintain calm hoping for better ties
EU leaders on Thursday (24 June) pressed Turkey to keep de-escalating tensions with the bloc as they eyed improving ties with Ankara after a spike in tensions last year over the eastern Mediterranean.
Row over Hungary’s LGBTQ law blows EU summit off course
Controversy over a new Hungarian law banning LGBTQ references in school materials is threatening to overshadow an EU summit on Thursday and Friday (24-25 June) intended to focus on foreign policy issues: confronting Russia and tricky ties with Turkey.
Turkish women rally in defense of Istanbul Convention
Hundreds of women rally in Istanbul on Saturday (19 June), urging President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to reverse his decision to withdraw from a Council of Europe anti-violence treaty ahead of a formal exit on1 July.
Turkey hosts 15% of world’s refugees, UN report finds
Turkey continued to be the largest refugee hosting country in the world, accounting for nearly 3.7 million refugees, or 15% of all people displaced across borders globally, according to a new report published on Friday by the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR).
Turkey’s participation request in EU military project apprehended as ‘Trojan horse’
NATO member Turkey has submitted an application to participate in one of the EU's Dutch-led military project on military mobility, despite tense relations with Greece and Cyprus. While the request is being reviewed, EU diplomats are split over Ankara's possible participation.
Italian and Turkish fishing boats in skirmish off Cyprus
A skirmish broke out between Turkish and Italian fishermen near the divided Mediterranean island of Cyprus on Tuesday, the Italian navy said on Tuesday (11 May). The navy said in a statement that people on board an unspecified number of...
UN chief urges ‘be creative’ as Cyprus talks open
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged Turkish and Greek Cypriot parties to "be creative" on Tuesday (27 April), hours before informal talks were set to begin on the island's future after a four-year hiatus.
MEP: EU Council is ‘obliged’ to introduce democracy conditionality with Turkey
All aspects of the EU’s relationship with Turkey should introduce the question of democratic conditionality, a leading MEP has told EURACTIV. “The Council is obliged by our treaties to stand for our values. This is not only the role of...