Turkish National Defense Minister Hulusi Akar (R) meets US Special Representative for Syria James Jeffrey (L) in Ankara, Turkey.
Turkish defense minister on Friday renewed Ankara’s demand from the U.S. to cut ties with YPG/PKK terrorist organization in Turkey.
According to a statement from Turkish Defense Ministry, Hulusi Akar met U.S.’s envoy for Syria James Jeffrey in the capital Ankara.
“The U.S. should cut ties with YPG which is no different from the PKK and the U.S. should also call off its plan to set up observation points in northern Syria,” Akar told Jeffrey.
Turkey spent 44 billion Turkish liras ($12 billion) for cultural activities in 2017, with 19.4-percent rise from the previous year, the nation’s statistical authority said on Friday.The government expenditures amounted to 64.2 percent of sum while the rest -- 35.8 percent -- was spent by private bodies, according to the Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat)."The ratio of cultural expenditures to gross domestic product remained same in 2017 compared to 1.4 percent in 2016," the TurkStat said.General government cultural spending reached 28.3 billion Turkish liras ($7.8 billion) last year, up 26.1 percent on a yearly basis.The institute said that the cultural expenditures for household increased by 8.7 percent year-on-year to reach 15.3 billion liras ($4.2 billion) in 2017.Most of the household expenditure was made on television-TV broadcasting with 31.2 percent.It was followed by books, newspapers and magazines with 14.7 percent, and wired/private TV broadcasting service charges with 12 percent.Data processing equipment got 10.9 percent, while stationery and drawing materials had 10.1 percent and cinema, theater and concert 5.6 percent share.- Cultural goods exports up 28.9 percentTurkey's exports of cultural goods rose 28.9 percent from 19.1 billion Turkish liras ($6.3 billion) in 2016 to 24.7 billion Turkish liras ($6.8 billion) in 2017, according to data.Cultural goods' share of Turkey's overall exports was 4.3 percent last year.Handcrafts took the lion's share of Turkish cultural good exports in 2017 with generating 17.9 billion Turkish liras ($4.9 billion) of revenue.
Turkey's cultural expenditure on rise in 2017
Turkey plans to open 35 more Turkish Trade Centers in various regions worldwide, the country’s trade minister said on Friday."Currently we have five Turkish Trade Centers (TTC) in 15 sectors. Our new aim is to open centers in 35 more destinations," Ruhsar Pekcan told Anadolu Agency’s Editors' Desk in the capital Ankara.This September Turkey inaugurated a trade center in London focused on ceramics and marble, Pekcan said.She added that the current trade center in Moscow will be reworked to better showcase Turkey’s fresh fruits and vegetables, which returned to Russian markets earlier this year.She said the country will continue to hit export records through the end of the year.Turkey to inaugurate largest mosque in Djibouti in February"Turkey's exports in November were the highest monthly figure ever,” at $15.5 billion, she said.“We will increase this and close out 2018 with a record."She said the ministry's main purpose is to pave the way for businesses, and therefore to collaborate with other ministries."We protect our producer-exporters under the rules of the World Trade Organization. Accordingly, we take various measures," Pekcan said.The ministry aims to give prominence to quality and increase the number of exporters, especially in the field of technology, the minister added.Dahlan launches tirade after Turkish media exposes his dirty gameMeanwhile, Turk Eximbank will have supported Turkey's exports with $44 billion by the end of this year, according to Pekcan."We plan to boost this figure to $48 billion in 2019," she said.Since Turk Eximbank was founded in 1987, it conducts export credit, buyer credit, credit insurance and guarantee programs aimed at developing economic and political relations between Turkey and other countries.Turkey arrests 41 ex-air force officers in FETÖ probeTurkish FM: FETÖ abusing European security bodyTurkey records largest fall in terrorism across Europe
Turkey eyes more Turkish Trade Centers abroad
The statement said the two dignitaries discussed regional issues -- including recent developments in Syria’s Manbij and Idlib – and bilateral relations.
Akar pointed out that giving weapons and ammunition to the terrorist YPG via trucks and airplanes doesn’t fit with the understanding of alliance with the U.S.
“We will never allow a terror corridor in the south of our country,” the Turkish defense minister added.
The U.S. has claimed the YPG/PKK is an “ally” in the fight against Daesh, over Turkey’s objections that you cannot use one terrorist group to fight another. Turkey has repeatedly cited evidence that the YPG is no different from the PKK.
The YPG is the Syrian offshoot of the PKK, a terrorist group recognized by Turkey, the U.S., and EU, which in its 30-year terror campaign has taken some 40,000 lives.
"Turkey’s gift to Djibouti", East Africa’s largest mosque being built in the capital city, is set to be inaugurated in two months’ time.Turkey Diyanet Foundation (TDV) launched the construction of the mosque in 2017, which will be completed soon and inaugurated in February 2019.Modeled in the style of classic Ottoman architecture, the mosque majestically stands at a suitable area of 10,000 square meters overlooking the Indian Ocean shores near the Djiboutian presidential palace.The mosque has enough room for 5,000 people to pray at once, project manager of the construction, Furkan Kazim Yuksel, told Anadolu Agency.“There is also a green area, a courtyard, modeled after the Blue Mosque in Turkey,” Yuksel said adding that part of the mosque rests on the ocean, which made the construction very challenging.Two minarets jetting up to 45 meters each mark off one big dome and four small ones to give the cream-white mosque building an air of architectural grandeur. Inside, a low-hanging chandelier brightens illustrious Turkish hand-drawn patterns.“The compound also includes a quarter for teaching children,” he said, pointing beyond a fountain in the middle of the courtyard which he said would be used for ablution.According to Yuksel, most of the materials come from Turkey, including cut stones that are used in Ottoman-style buildings.- Turkey’s gift to DjiboutiHe said that the mosque is "Turkey’s gift to the people of Djibouti" -- a country with which Turkey came in contact in ancient times together with other countries and places in the Horn of Africa.“Our forefathers made contact with the people of this region in ancient times and I feel honored to be part of this project,” he said.Yuksel added, “I want my children to be proud.”- Winning heartsTurkish Ambassador to Djibouti Sadi Altinok told Anadolu Agency that Turkey’s interventions in Djibouti -- a small country of less than 1 million people -- are not focused on the military, but on the development and humanitarian support.In addition to the mosque, Altinok said, Turkey has carried out several socio-economic projects aimed at the benefit of the people.A pediatric hospital is in the pipeline and a water dam has been completed by 50 percent, he said, listing the several projects Turkey has launched in the tiny, yet strategically important country.
Turkey to inaugurate largest mosque in Djibouti in February
Turkey recorded the largest fall in terrorism across Europe last year, a global terrorism ranking list said.The Global Terrorism Index 2018 said fatalities from terrorism in the country fell from 659 in 2016 to 123 in 2017.Across Europe deaths from terrorism reduced 75 percent.The list based on 163 countries was released by Australia-based think tank Institute for Economics and Peace.Turkey also showed a reduction in Daesh and PKK presence by 81 percent.The deadliest terror attack in 2017 was the New Year’s Eve nightclub armed attack that killed 39 people in Istanbul, Turkey.In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU -- has been responsible for the deaths of some 40,000 people, including women and children.Turkish jets 'neutralize' 8 PKK terrorists in N IraqFormer HDP lawmaker Önder surrenders to security forcesTurkey makes largest ever heroin bustTurkey 'invaluable' in fight against Daesh: UK envoy
Turkey records largest fall in terrorism across Europe