BDP leader calls on PKK to lay down arms Selahattin Demirtaş, the co-leader of the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP), called on the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) to halt all armed activities today. Demirtaş spoke in the wake of today's attack on a military outpost in the Dağlıca distict of the eastern Hakkari province by the PKK that left eight soldiers and 10 PKK militants dead. Demirtaş extended h ...

Amid initiatives between the governement and political parties to speed up democratic improvements in Turkey, Kurdish terrorists do not fail to perform their bloody jobs. 8 killed, 16 wounded in clashes in southeastern Turkey Eight soldiers were killed and 16 more were wounded yesterday during clashes between security forces and members of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in the southeastern prov ...

Turkey’s top court enters the fray over President Gül’s term, fixing his mandate at seven years an allowing him to rerun in 2014 for five years President Abdullah Gül’s mandate is seven years, and he can stand for re-election for another five years, Turkey’s top court has announced, putting an end to the ambiguity over the timing of the presidential elections. However, by allowing Gül to run again, the Cons ...

Kurdish to be offered as an elective landuage course in Turkish schools Delivering a speech at his Justice and Development Party (AKP) parliamentary group meeting yesterday, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that his government would introduce elective lessons in the Kurdish language in schools. "Kurdish will be learned and taught as an elective lesson, if there is sufficient number of students deman ...

The Supreme Board of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK) staged a major judicial overhaul yesterday, removing specially authorized prosecutors from major coup cases and reassigning them to higher offices amid a continued debate over special-authority courts. Chief Ergenekon prosecutor Cihan Kansız and chief “Balyoz” (Sledgehammer) prosecutor Savaş Kırbaş were both reassigned as Istanbul deputy chief public prosec ...

Contrary to the worries of many people in Turkey, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has said a planned revision to Article 250 of the Code on Criminal Procedure (CMK), which gives special authority to courts and prosecutors to investigate organized crime and coup plots, will not weaken the hand of Turkey in its fight against coups and coup plotters. The prime minister appeared on a live TV program, Başbak ...

A country ‘begging’ for 100 billion euros in order not to collapse cannot be model for Turkey, PM Erdoğan says in an open reference to Greece. Opposition leader Kılıçdaroğlu is doubtful of the official growth figures The leaders of Turkey’s ruling and main opposition parties engaged in a battle of words yesterday at the Turkish Exporters Assembly’s (TİM) general meeting yesterday, with Prime Minister Recep ...

In a watershed for Turkish politics, the leaders of the two largest parties agree to a joint road map to end the Kurdish problem Turkish politics witnessed a historic breakthrough yesterday as the ruling and main opposition parties agreed on a road map for the solution of the decades-old Kurdish question, with or without the contribution of Parliament’s other two political parties. Prime Minister Recep Tayy ...

The large economies of the world are failing to help the poor countries, according to Turkish PM Erdoğan. The rapporteurs sent to undeveloped countries earn a lot but do not provide enough aid or assistance, he says The world’s developed countries are not doing enough to help poorer nations, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said in his opening speech at a WEF meeting on the Middle East, North Afr ...

The question is: "In light of the global economic contraction, how can governments and business leaders design and deliver new models to drive innovation and economic agility across this mega-region?" Istanbul, the glimmering business center in Middle East & Europe is expected to host over 1,000 leaders who will search for new partnerships for growth and human development and the good of the world econo ...

Prime Minister Erdogan delivered a speech to citizens in Diyarbakir, today. Intensive security measures were taken prior to the arrival of Prime Minister Erdogan in Diyarbakir. Some small businesses and shops preferred to be closed. WE STAND WHERE WE STARTED AT THE VERY BEGINNING The Prime Minister started his speech by referring to how they started out at the very beginning and said following: "When we hit ...

Turkey’s first particle accelerator facility opened by the Turkey’s Atomic Energy Authority (TAEK) went into operation yesterday in an opening ceremony participated in by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Prime Minister Erdoğan stated the following during an address at the opening ceremony: "With these facilities, Turkey will be gaining the capacity to produce nuclear technology. We hope to present every ...

A possible abortion ban in Turkey would lead to more deaths for women who will have to resort to unsafe methods to end unwanted pregnancies, Turkey's U.N. Population Fund Representative recently told BBC Türkçe. New regulations that would only abortions to be conducted in the first four weeks of pregnancy would make it nearly impossible for women to conduct an abortion since it is extremely difficult to det ...

Turkish Prime Minister’s recents comments condemning abortion and ceaserian birth spark debate among those who say abortion is a right within the boundaries of law and those who support Erdoğan’s words The Turkish prime minister’s remarks against abortion and caesarean births over the weekend have provoked a divisive debate, with Family and Social Policies Minister Fatma Şahin emerging to offer her vigorous ...

Erdogan: Turkey and Kazakhstan are strategic partnersTurkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Turkey and Kazakhstan were strategic partners. ASTANA- Cooperation between the two countries will develop within the scope of this understanding from now on, added Erdogan after he signed a joint declaration on setting up a high-level strategic cooperation council with Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarb ...

Turkish PM links Uludere raid row to elections in US Erdoğan accuses a US daily of trying to undermine the Obama administration with a story over the Uludere raid failure last year. The Wall Street Journal may be part of a project to undermine the Barack Obama administration as the U.S. presidential election approaches, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has said. In late December 2011 34 civilians were ki ...

Heated debate has gripped Turkey over the redrafting of a military-era constitution and a related question -- whether Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan is trying to cling to power as president. Parliament has started work to rewrite the 30-year-old national charter to replace a text passed two years after a 1980 military coup, reflecting deep changes in a country now ruled by a moderate Islamist government. Civi ...

Turkey will not welcome unfair assessments from international rating agencies, says Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Economic circles should discuss “the non-objective stance” of those agences, he says Without specifically naming it, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has hit out again at the rating agency Standard and Poor’s, which recently downgraded the outlook of the Turkish economy. It was ...

IMF Chief Lagarde expressed that Turkey’s reaction to S&P's rating downgrade was correct. Lagarde stated, "I heard what the Prime Minister said. If it is thought that a mistake was made, then there is no problem expressing it. We made a mistake in growth and rectified it. That is something everyone can do.” Arriving in Istanbul in order to attend the Investment Advisory Council, International Monetary F ...

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has called for a "new era" in Franco-Turkish relations in a congratulatory phone call to president-elect Francois Hollande, officials said today. In the call late on Thursday, Erdoğan said he hoped "Turko-French relations will from now on be free from artificial questions currently affecting them," an official in Erdoğan's entourage said. "I am confident on the su ...

Gül’s message for Europe Day: We can save Europe In messages delivered for ‘Europe Day’, Gül said, “Turkey could save Europe”. Meanwhile Erdoğan emphasizes his intent to join the EU. A MESSAGE TO EUROPE In his message to commemorate Europe Day, President Abdullah Gül stated: "Europe Day provides a significant occasion in which to be reminded of the commitment to the values Europe is based on such as basic r ...

IMF Chief Lagarde states that the debate surrounding belt-tightening and growth in Europe is baseless. According to Lagarde, financial discipline and growth are possible at the same time and suggests a system which has been in place in Turkey since 2001. International Monetary Fund (IMF) Director Christine Lagarde suggests Turkey's combination of financial discipline and focus on growth as a path to be foll ...

Erdogan: Turkey-Italy trade volume reaches USD 21.3 billion Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the trade volume between Turkey and Italy had reached 21.3 billion ROME- Holding a joint press conference with Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti within the scope of Turkey-Italy Summit in Rome, Erdogan said that first summit took place in Turkey's Aegean city of Izmir nearly 2.5 years ago. This ...