Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan urged Russia and Ukraine on Tuesday to resolve their dispute in the Black Sea through dialogue.
“We’re living in a time where the world is in the clutches of serious threats. We’d be pleased to see Russia and Ukraine side by side as opposed to being on opposite sides,” Erdoğan said while addressing his ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party’s parliamentarian bloc.
"We want Black Sea to become a peace sea," he added.
Erdoğan expressed Turkey's desire to see Russia and Ukraine cooperate amid serious threats in the world.
During a Justice and Development (AK) Party parliamentary group meeting in Ankara, Turkey, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan reiterated his call for dialogue between Russia and Ukraine over a dispute in the Sea of Azov.
Erdoğan urges Russia, Ukraine to solve dispute through dialogue and stand ‘side by side’
Russia on Sunday seized three Ukrainian naval ships off Russian-held Crimea in the Sea of Azov.
The Ukrainian Navy accused Russia of opening fire on its warships, adding that its crew members were wounded and its vessels seized by Russia.
Russia and Ukraine have been at loggerheads since 2014, when Russia annexed Crimea after a controversial referendum.
Turkey, as well as the UN General Assembly, say the annexation was illegal.
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas on Tuesday urged Moscow to stick to international law again and respect the territorial sovereignty of neighbouring countries, following Russia's seizure of Ukrainian vessels.Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko has warned of an "extremely serious" threat of a land invasion after Russia seized three Ukrainian naval ships and took their crew prisoner at the weekend."The aim must be that Russia sticks to international rules again and that it does not violate the territorial sovereignty of its neighbours," Maas said in a speech in Berlin.To achieve this, Germany and its European allies need clear principles and a "true dialogue" on common security in Europe, Maas added.Russia blocks Ukrainian navy from entering Sea of Azov"Russia to free Ukrainian sailors immediately"Meanwhile, German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen urged Russia on Tuesday to release Ukrainian sailors captured at the weekend and said both parties needed to show they were trying to calm the situation.Russia seized three Ukrainian naval ships and took their crew prisoner at the weekend, prompting Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko to say there was now an "extremely serious" threat of a Russian land invasion.Von der Leyen told the Berlin Security Conference that the circumstances were not yet fully understood, but it was critical to avoid the situation spiralling out of control."This is about the question of respect for territorial integrity and about the will not to let disputes escalate," she said."The Kremlin has violated these rules and principles in the past years. In this current situation, both sides, Russia and Ukraine, must show that they are actively contributing to de-escalation," von der Leyen added.She said the seized ships and sailors must be released. "Ukraine must provide evidence about the exact events. Russia must ensure free passage through waterways and it should not act in an disproportionate way," she added.German Chancellor Angela Merkel spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday and stressed the need for de-escalation and dialogue, her spokesman said on Tuesday. Russia ‘rams’ Ukrainian tugboat off CrimeaRelatives of MH17 victims taking Russia to top EU court
'Russia must respect international law again'
Operation Euphrates Shield “burst Daesh bubble”
Regarding developments in Syria, Erdoğan said Turkey was the country that “burst the Daesh bubble” through Operation Euphrates Shield.
“Everyone seeks their interest in Syria under the pretext of anti-Daesh fight, but we took all the risks, entered and struck them down.”
"There is no Daesh in Syria but some small gangs trained, equipped to create chaos in the country and the region under the disguise of Daesh," he continued, vowing to fully eliminate remnants of the terror group "in a couple of months."
In the wide-ranging Euphrates Shield Operation launched in August 2016, the Free Syrian Army -- with the support of the Turkish army -- had cleared 2,000 square kilometers (772 square miles) of land along the Turkish-Syrian border of terrorist elements.
Twenty-three members of the terrorist Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), who were plotting an attack on Nov. 27 in Istanbul, were arrested in an operation conducted by Turkish security forces on Tuesday.The suspects planned to stage an attack using improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and Molotov cocktails on the so-called founding anniversary of the PKK terror group.Simultaneous raids of 28 addresses in 10 of Istanbul’s districts were conducted by the Istanbul Security Directorate’s counterterrorism squads.Digital material and documents related to the terror group were seized during the operation. The suspects were escorted to the Istanbul Counterterrorism Branch for questioning.The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey as well as the U.S. and the EU. In its terror campaign against Turkey, which has lasted for more than three decades, over 40,000 people have been killed, including women and children.Turkish soldier injured in PKK rocket attackTwenty arrested for suspected PKK/KCK links in Turkey
Turkey arrests 23 PKK terrorists plotting Istanbul attack
Erdoğan said that Turkey is the one that started to overthrow Deash terror group, "which is one of the greatest concerns of Islam."
"While everyone sought their interest on Syrian soil using Daesh as an excuse, we took all the risks, entered the field and struck this terror group down hard," said the president.
There is no Daesh in Syria but some small gangs are trained and equipped to create chaos in the country and region under disguise of Daesh, Erdoğan said.
More than 300 people have lost their lives in Daesh terror attacks in Turkey, where the terror group targets civilians in suicide bomb, rocket and gun attacks.
Turkey was the one who started to overthrow the Daesh terror group and its remnants will be eradicated “in a few months,” President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said during a Justice and Development (AK) Party's parliamentary group meeting in Ankara, Turkey.
Erdoğan vows to eliminate remnants of Daesh in a few months
Turkey has started preparatory works on Monday for shallow water drilling in the Mediterranean sea off the coast of Mersin in southern Turkey, Turkey's Energy Minister Fatih Dönmez confirmed.Speaking at the launch ceremony in Mersin, on the Mediterranean coast, Dönmez said the country would continue its drilling activities for the exploration of natural gas and oil sources in the region as part of Turkey's aim to be energy independent.He also stated that based on the country's current exploration licenses, Turkish engineers initially plan to open two shallow sea wells.In the scope of this shallow well project that will run for two months, the first well will be drilled off the North Erdemli location, 119 sea miles from land and at a depth of around 101 meters.Turkey starts shallow water drilling in Med. SeaTurkey and Qatar prove to be true friends, says ErdoğanHe explained that Turkey also would like to diversify its energy portfolio with new projects in different energy fields."Through these drilling activities, and based on these [diversification] strategies, not only will Turkey benefit from the outcomes, but also regional energy markets will fundamentally be affected," he said.On Oct. 30, Turkey's first drilling vessel, Fatih, started conducting its first deep drilling in offshore Antalya on the county's southern Mediterranean coast.Dönmez said that Turkey would conduct deep drilling works with its own vessel for the deep-water well Alanya-1 as part of its efforts to utilize its domestic resources."Our aim is to open two drilling wells on average a year with the Fatih vessel," Dönmez said, adding that the first drilling in Alanya-1 is planned for a period of nearly 150 days.Turkish FM says Saudi journalist’s killers did not act alone
Turkey starts shallow water drilling in Med. Sea
"Turkey to use its rights on Aegean, Cyprus issues"
Turkey is determined to use its rights based on international law on disputes over Aegean Sea and Cyprus, Erdoğan said.
Erdoğan said on the Mediterranean issue that reckless behavior of Greece and Southern Cyprus, with backing of some European states, would threaten them foremost.
"Turkey is determined to use its rights arising from international law in full on disputes over Aegean Sea, Cyprus issue," said Erdoğan.
He added: "Turkey will never compromise its interests, neither in Eastern Mediterranean nor in other regions."
Turkey has started preparatory works on Monday for shallow water drilling in the Mediterranean sea off the coast of Mersin in southern Turkey, Turkey's Energy Minister Fatih Dönmez confirmed.Turkey starts shallow water drilling in Med. Sea
Show All
He said Ankara will not allow irrelevant countries to gain economic and political dominance in eastern Mediterranean.
On Monday, Turkey started preparatory works for shallow water drilling in the Mediterranean sea off the coast of Mersin in southern Turkey.
On Oct. 30, Turkey's first drilling vessel, Fatih, conducted its first deep drilling in offshore Antalya on the county's southern Mediterranean coast.
Turkish president and leader of ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party on Tuesday announced 20 mayoral candidates for March 2019 local elections.Candidates for eight metropolitan municipalities and 12 provincial municipalities were named at the party's parliamentary group meeting in the capital Ankara.Recep Tayyip Erdoğan nominated former Economy Minister Nihat Zeybekci for Izmir mayorship in the upcoming local elections.Mehmet Özhaseki, the party's deputy chairman and former minister of environment and urbanization, will run for Ankara mayorship.The candidates for Afyonkarahisar, Balikesir, Bingol, Canakkale, Cankiri, Corum, Eskisehir, Hatay, Karaman, Konya, Mardin, Mus, Sakarya, Sivas, Tokat, Trabzon, Usak and Yozgat provinces were also announced.The candidate for Istanbul was not revealed on Tuesday; however, Parliament Speaker Binali Yıldırım is the top contender for the spot.On Saturday, Erdoğan announced the list of 40 mayoral candidates including 14 metropolitan municipalities and 26 provincial municipalities.The local elections in Turkey are scheduled on March 31, 2019.Turkish Red Crescent helps orphans in N.IraqTurkey continues fight against drugs, terrorismTurkish gendarmerie rescues 57 migrants from heavy rain
Turkish President Erdoğan announces twenty mayoral candidates
AK Party mayoral candidates announced
Erdoğan also announced 20 more mayoral candidates for local elections at his party's parliamentary group meeting.
Among AK Party's nominees are Mehmet Özhaseki, the ruling party's deputy chairman, and former economy minister Nihat Zeybekçi, who will run for the Ankara and İzmir mayorships rsepectively in the upcoming March 2019 local elections.
The candidates for Afyonkarahisar, Balıkesir, Bingöl, Çanakkale, Cankiri, Çorum, Eskişehir, Hatay, Karaman, Konya, Mardin, Mus, Sakarya, Sivas, Tokat, Trabzon, Usak and Yozgat provinces were also announced.
The candidate for Istanbul was not revealed on Tuesday; however, Parliament Speaker Binali Yıldırım is the top contender for the spot.
On Saturday, Erdoğan announced the list of 40 mayoral candidates including 14 metropolitan municipalities and 26 provincial municipalities.
The local elections in Turkey are scheduled on March 31, 2019.