About: Mevlut Cavusoglu
EU hopes for Eastern Mediterranean conference fritter away
The EU push for a multilateral conference on the Eastern Mediterranean to ease tensions in the region has reached deadlock, diplomatic sourced told EURACTIV.com.
Turkey ‘upset’, but undeterred by US sanctions and EU threats
Turkey will not abandon its rights and interests in the eastern Mediterranean because of possible European Union sanctions or criticism, Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said on Monday (14 December), the day when the US effectively sanctioned Ankara.
In parting shot, Pompeo rebukes Turkey at NATO meeting
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo used his final NATO meeting this week to sharply criticise Turkey, saying its purchase of a Russian weapons system was "a gift" to Moscow, according to five diplomats and officials.
Azerbaijan vows retaliation for deadly strike on civilians
Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev vowed on Saturday (17 October) to take revenge on Armenia after a missile strike killed 12 sleeping people in the city of Ganja, a dramatic escalation in the conflict over the Nagorno-Karabakh region.
Russia brokers Karabakh ceasefire, EU voices ‘extreme concern’ over breaches
The EU diplomatic chief on Sunday (11 October) expressed his deep concern over reports of violations of a Russia-brokered ceasefire between warring neighbours Armenia and Azerbaijan in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region.
Half Karabakh population displaced as mediators set for Geneva talks
Clashes between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces have displaced half of the population of the breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region, an official said on Wednesday (7 October) as international mediators were set to hold their first meeting in Geneva.
Russia warns that Nagorno-Karabakh could become Islamist militant stronghold
The Kremlin issued a new appeal for an end to hostilities in and around Nagorno-Karabakh on Tuesday (6 October) after Moscow’s foreign intelligence chief said the mountain enclave could become a launch pad for Islamist militants to enter Russia.
NATO chief says expects Turkey to calm Karabakh conflict
The head of NATO said Monday (5 October) he expected Turkey -- a key ally of Azerbaijan -- to use its "considerable" influence to calm the conflict in the Armenian separatist region of Nagorno-Karabakh.
Turkey defies Greece, extends Mediterranean exploration
Turkey said on Monday (31 August) that its Oruç Reis exploration vessel will now carry out seismic surveys in a disputed part of the eastern Mediterranean until 12 September, in a move likely to stoke tensions in the region.
Spain sees thaw in Europe-Turkey tensions on Mediterranean drilling
Spain's foreign minister said that talks in Turkey on Monday (27 July) had helped to reduce tensions between some EU members and Ankara over Turkish energy exploration in the Mediterranean, adding that a one-month pause in drilling was possible.
Erdogan drops the ‘human bomb’ on EU
The situation at the Greek-Turkish land border worsened dramatically on Saturday (29 February) following Ankara's official decision to let thousands of migrants enter EU territory.
Syrian forces seize most of Aleppo province, on eve of Turkey-Russia talks
Syrian government forces made significant advances on Sunday (16 February) in the country’s northwestern Aleppo province, seizing most of the rebel-held region, state media said, a day before a new round of talks between Turkey and Russia on the escalation in the area.
Russia tells Turkey to refrain from provocative statements on Syria
Russia's foreign ministry on Thursday (13 February) called on Turkey to refrain from making provocative statements about events in Syria amid rising tensions over the Syrian province of Idlib.
Turkey continues to block NATO’s Eastern defence plans
Ankara has not shifted from its intentions to block the final decisions related to updating NATO's defence plan of the Poland and the Baltic States. Meanwhile, Eastern European calls for assurances of alliance commitments become more vocal.
Russia balks at Turkish idea of new Syrian military operation
Russia said on Tuesday (19 November) it was bewildered by a Turkish pledge to conduct a new military operation in northern Syria if the area was not cleared of people Ankara calls terrorists, warning that any such move would damage efforts to stabilise the region.
Erdogan to meet Putin over Syrian army offensive
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan told Russia’s Vladimir Putin on Friday (23 August) that Syrian army attacks in northwest Syria are causing a humanitarian crisis and threaten Turkey’s national security, the Turkish presidency said.
Turkey says it will look to Russia if US won’t sell F-35s
Turkey warned on Wednesday (10 April) that it could buy jets and additional air defense systems from Russia if it cannot get Patriot missile shields and F-35 jets from Washington, raising the prospect of ever deeper defense ties between Moscow and a NATO member.
US halts F-35 equipment to Turkey, protests its plans to buy from Russia
The United States has halted delivery of equipment related to the stealthy F-35 fighter aircraft to Turkey, marking the first concrete US step to block delivery of the jet to the NATO ally in light of Ankara’s planned purchase of a Russian missile defense system.
Erdogan says Turkey will not go back on missile defence deal with Russia
Turkey will not go back on its agreement to buy S-400 missile defence systems from Russia, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Wednesday (6 March), adding that Ankara may subsequently look into buying S-500 systems.
Erdogan, Trump consider creating security zone in Syria
Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and US counterpart Donald Trump mooted Monday (14 January) the creation of a "security zone" in northern Syria as tensions rose over the fate of Kurdish fighters in the war-torn country.
At tense Ankara news conference, EU rebukes Turkey over detentions
Top EU officials rebuked Turkey on Thursday (22 November) over its arrests of journalists and academics and the long pre-trial detention of a Kurdish politician, holding a forthright press conference with Turkey’s foreign minister in Ankara that quickly turned tense.
Astana meeting on Syria takes place without Western oversight
Kazakhstan and Russia urged the US on Friday (16 March) to engage "in a constructive dialogue" in the context of the unfolding tragedy in Syria. But no US or Western diplomats were present at the eight edition of the Syria talks, held in the framework of the so-called Astana process.
Czech release of Syrian Kurdish leader triggers outrage in Turkey
A Czech court yesterday (27 February) released prominent Syrian Kurdish leader Saleh Muslim, wanted by Turkey on terror charges, prompting outrage in Ankara which said the move showed "support for terrorism".