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Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)


2015 Turkey Special Weapons News

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

December

November

October

  • Turkey - Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM) (Corrected*) DSCA 30 Oct 2015 -- The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to Turkey for Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM) and associated equipment, parts and logistical support for an estimated cost of $70 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on October 28, 2015.
  • AKP Party to Continue Peaceful Settlement of Kurdish Issue in Turkey Sputnik 31 Oct 2015 -- Deputy Chairman of the Turkish Justice and Development Party's (AKP) Mevlut Cavusoglu said that the party initiated large-scale construction of infrastructure in the regions inhabited by Kurds and took steps to increase the presence of the Kurdish language in the state media.
  • Amid Tension, Turkey's Kurds Pin Hopes on Election VOA 31 Oct 2015 -- The rising influence of Kurdish voters is a central issue in Turkey's parliamentary elections being held Sunday to break a tense political deadlock. The poll is taking place after elections in June were inconclusive and coalition talks with the party of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan failed.
  • Deep Divisions Ahead of Turkey's Sunday Election VOA 30 Oct 2015 -- Outside the Istanbul Military Museum, patriotic music blared from huge speakers on a truck bedecked with Turkey's national flag. A handful of tourists shuffled into the museum, but few locals heading to Istanbul's upscale and politically liberal Nisantasi district – a neighborhood peppered with designer label stores – paid much attention to the martial clamor, except to shield their ears.
  • Turkish Opposition Cites Pressure Ahead of Poll VOA 30 Oct 2015 -- As Turkey prepares for parliamentary elections Sunday, the leader of the opposition HDP party contends the government is blocking its candidates from campaign appearances on Turkish media.
  • 2 Police, 7 Militants Dead in Turkey Raid on IS Targets VOA 26 Oct 2015 -- A raid on an Islamic State cell in southeastern Turkey left two Turkish police officers and seven militants dead Monday, as authorities pressed their effort to combat the extremists based across the border in Syria.
  • Turkey won't allow Kurds to control northern Syria: Erdogan Press TV 24 Oct 2015 -- Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says Ankara will not allow Kurds to take control of northern Syria, accusing them of trying to grab land in the region.
  • Turkey's Political Divisions Deepen VOA 23 Oct 2015 -- Turkey's political divisions continue to deepen following the worst terrorist attack in the country's modern history. More than 100 people died in twin suicide bombings on October 10.
  • EU's Delayed Report on Turkey Fuels Human Rights Concerns VOA 21 Oct 2015 -- The European Union is delaying its annual report on Turkey's bid for membership, which is widely expected to be highly critical of Turkey's human rights record. The report is being postponed until after next month's Turkish general election. This has prompted the idea that the EU is willing to use the human rights issue to enlisting Turkey's cooperation in alliance efforts to stem the tide of migrants and refugees entering Europe.
  • Syria Offensives Trigger More Turkey-Bound Refugees VOA 21 Oct 2015 -- Turkish officials say 50,000 refugees have left the Syrian city of Aleppo and are heading to the border, but it remains unclear whether they will be allowed to enter Turkey after a hazardous journey dodging airstrikes and negotiating checkpoints manned by disparate rebel militias, including al-Qaida's affiliate in Syria.
  • EU Membership More Elusive Than Ever for Turkey VOA 20 Oct 2015 -- Moves by Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to clamp down on the Kurdish minority and the media before next month's parliamentary elections are fueling the longstanding skepticism of European leaders, and analysts say the prospect of Turkey joining the European Union seems more distant than ever.
  • Erdoğan's Tough Talk May Pay Off at Turkey Polls VOA 19 Oct 2015 -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's gamble to hold a snap election just months after voters denied his party a parliamentary majority may pay off, but only just, according to pollsters.
  • Merkel holds talks with Turkey officials over refugee crisis Press TV 18 Oct 2015 -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel has held talks with Turkish leaders in Istanbul in a bid to win Turkey's cooperation in addressing the historic flow of refugees to Europe.
  • Turkish police arrest 50 in connection with Ankara blasts Press TV 18 Oct 2015 -- Police in Turkey have arrested some 50 foreign nationals that authorities believe might be linked to a recent deadly bomb attack in the capital, Ankara.
  • Army, PKK clashes leave 24 dead in SE Turkey: Source Press TV 18 Oct 2015 -- Four Turkish soldiers and 20 members of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) have been killed in the latest clashes in the country's volatile southeast over the past couple of days, a security source says.
  • Turkey to target any violator of airspace, says Premier Davutoglu Press TV 17 Oct 2015 -- Turkey's Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu says Ankara will shoot down any military aircraft that violates the Turkish airspace.
  • Turkey: Europe's Offer of Migrant Deal 'Insincere' VOA 16 Oct 2015 -- European Union leaders, at a meeting in Brussels, have agreed on a plan to offer Turkey $3.5 billion, together with visa-free travel and renewed accession talks, in return for stopping the flow of refugees and migrants into the EU. But the offer is getting a lukewarm reception in Ankara.
  • Turkey shoots down aircraft 'after three warnings' Press TV 16 Oct 2015 -- The Turkish military says it has shot down aircraft, of an unidentified nationality, in its airspace after warning it three times.
  • All Russian Aircraft in Syria, Including Drones, Are Safely At Base Sputnik 16 Oct 2015 -- Earlier today, the Turkish General Staff said Turkey shot down an unidentified aircraft in its airspace near the border with Syria.
  • Turkey Downs Unidentified Aircraft on Border With Syria - General Staff Sputnik 16 Oct 2015 -- According to Turkey's General Staff, an unidentified aircraft has been downed by the country's forces for violating its airspace.
  • European Rights Court Says Turk Had Right To Deny Armenian Genocide RFE/RL 15 Oct 2015 -- In a landmark freedom-of-speech case, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has ruled that a Turkish politician had the right to deny that the mass killing of Armenians a century ago amounted to genocide.
  • In Turkey, UN deputy chief says response to migration and refugee movement 'being tested as never before' UN News 14 Oct 2015 -- The world's ability to respond to migration and refugee movement is "being tested as never before," the United Nations deputy chief today said speaking at the Global Forum on Migration and Development taking place in Istanbul, Turkey, while recalling some key principles underscored by the UN to address this global challenge.
  • Turkey Warns US, Russia on Arming Syria Kurds VOA 14 Oct 2015 -- Turkey has warned both the United States and Russia against arming Kurdish forces in Syria, saying they are connected to what Ankara calls Kurdish terrorists within Turkey. Analysts say the West sees the Kurds as a vital ally in countering the spread of the Islamic State terror group, also known as ISIS or ISIL.
  • Eight more PKK militants die in restive southeast Turkey Press TV 14 Oct 2015 -- At least eight members of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) have been killed in a Turkish military operation in the restive southeastern part of the country.
  • Three senior Turkish security officials sacked after Ankara bombings Press TV 14 Oct 2015 -- Three top security officials in the Turkish capital, Ankara, have been dismissed in the wake of the recent twin bomb blasts that rocked the city.
  • Erdogan Seizes Upon Ankara Bombing Errors VOA 14 Oct 2015 -- Three senior Turkish security officials have been suspended following the nation's deadliest terrorist attack Saturday in the capital, Ankara. Their suspension comes as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan acknowledged mistakes were made over the attack.
  • NATO ready to help Turkey against Russia: Stoltenberg Press TV 12 Oct 2015 -- The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has announced its readiness to 'help' its member state Turkey, more than a week after Russian jets, carrying airstrikes in Syria, strayed into Turkish airspace.
  • Russia Postpones Open Skies Flight Over Turkey at Ankara's Request Sputnik 12 Oct 2015 -- The Russian Defense Ministry has come to an agreement with Ankara to postpone its observation flights over Turkey, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Gen.-Maj. Igor Konashenkov said Monday.
  • Turkey's Political Parties Trade Blame After Bombings VOA 12 Oct 2015 -- The deadliest terror attack in Turkey's history has left the country in shock, but appeals for unity are being ignored, poisoning Turkish politics just weeks ahead of elections that are unlikely to end a parliamentary deadlock.
  • US Pulling Patriot Missiles Stationed in Turkey Sputnik 12 Oct 2015 -- The United States has started moving its Patriot missiles from Turkey, US media reported on Sunday.
  • Turkish Military Carry Out Airstrikes on PKK Targets in Iraq Sputnik 11 Oct 2015 -- The Turkish military bombed targets of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) in southeastern Turkey and Iraq during airstrikes on Sunday.
  • Turkey Says Its Jets Harassed by Syrian Warplanes, Missile Systems Sputnik 11 Oct 2015 -- Syrian fighter jets and missile systems harassed Turkish F-16 warplanes near the Turkish-Syrian border on Saturday, the Turkish military said on Sunday, once again bringing the conflict to NATO's southeastern flank.
  • Thousands Rally as Turkey Mourns 95 Killed in Bombings VOA 11 Oct 2015 -- Thousands of people took to the streets of Ankara Sunday, many of them chanting slogans against the Turkish government, as the country mourned the victims of twin bombings at a peace rally that killed at least 95 people.
  • Bombings a Sign of Turkey's Deep Troubles VOA 11 Oct 2015 -- Turkey has begun a three-day period of mourning following Saturday's bomb attacks in the capital, Ankara, that killed nearly 100 people. With contentious parliamentary elections three weeks away, the attacks highlight the challenges Turkey is facing as it struggles with ethnic friction, an ongoing migrant crisis, and growing tensions with Russia.
  • Mafia state in Turkey behind blasts: HDP leader Press TV 10 Oct 2015 -- The leader of Turkey's main pro-Kurdish party has blamed a 'mafia state' in the country over the death of dozens of people in twin blasts in the capital, Ankara, that targeted pro-Kurdish members and activists.
  • At Least 86 Dead In Ankara Explosions RFE/RL 10 Oct 2015 -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has denounced as 'heinous' a bombing in Ankara that left dozens killed and more than 180 people injured.
  • Blasts Kill 86 at Pro-Kurdish Rally in Ankara VOA 10 Oct 2015 -- Twin blasts at a pro-Kurdish peace rally in the Turkish capital Saturday killed at least 86 people and wounded nearly 200 others in the deadliest attack in Turkey's recent history.
  • Turkey's Erdogan Warns Russia on Energy Deals VOA 08 Oct 2015 -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, angered by Russia's bombing campaign in Syria, warned Moscow on Thursday that Ankara may look elsewhere for partners to supply natural gas and build its first nuclear power plant.
  • Turkey Beefs Up Air Patrols Along Syrian Border Sputnik 09 Oct 2015 -- The Turkish military has increased the number of F-16 Fighting Falcon jets patrolling its southern border with war-torn Syria, the country's General Staff said Friday.
  • Russia Has Fully Explained Turkish Airspace Violation - Deputy FM Sputnik 08 Oct 2015 -- Moscow considers its explanation for the violation of Turkish airspace by a Russian aircraft sufficient and is ready to continue dialogue on the issue with Ankara if necessary, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said Thursday.
  • Turkey, EU Discuss Measures To Curb Syrian Migrant Flows RFE/RL 06 Oct 2015 -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and top European officials discussed ways to stem the spiraling migrant crisis in Brussels on October 5.
  • Twelve more PKK militants slain in southeast Turkey Press TV 06 Oct 2015 -- At least 12 members of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) have been killed in Turkish military strikes in the southeastern part of Turkey.
  • US, Turkey Threaten to Shoot Down Russian Jets for Airspace Violations Sputnik 06 Oct 2015 -- The US and Turkey have threatened to shoot down Russian warplanes if they stray into Turkish airspace, following two accidental, momentary violations of the Syria-Turkey border by Russian military aircraft.
  • Erdogan Says Turkey Cannot Endure Violation Of Its Airspace By Russia RFE/RL 06 Oct 2015 -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said that his country 'cannot endure' Russian aircraft violating its airspace along the Syrian border, warning that 'an attack on Turkey means an attack on NATO.'
  • Erdogan: Ankara-Moscow Relations at Risk VOA 06 Oct 2015 -- Turkey's president on Tuesday questioned the future of relations between Ankara and Moscow after multiple reports of airspace violations by Russian military planes along the Turkish border with Syria.
  • Russia looking into Turkey airspace violation claims Press TV 06 Oct 2015 -- Moscow says it is investigating the allegation by Ankara that Russian jets targeting terrorists in Syria have violated Turkish airspace for a second time, reports say.
  • Moscow, Ankara Settle Turkish Airspace Violation Incident Sputnik 05 Oct 2015 -- Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said that Russia contacted Turkey through diplomatic channels and told Ankara that Moscow respects Turkey's borders.
  • U.S., NATO Condemn Russia's Violations Of Turkish Airspace RFE/RL 05 Oct 2015 -- The United States and its NATO allies have condemned Russia's incursions into Turkey's airspace, saying the violations were both dangerous and irresponsible.
  • Statement by the North Atlantic Council on incursions into Turkey's airspace by Russian aircraft NATO 05 Oct 2015 -- The North Atlantic Council met today to hold consultations on the potential implications of the recent dangerous military actions of the Russian Federation in and around Syria.
  • Turkey soldiers kill 17 'PKK militants' Press TV 02 Oct 2015 -- Seventeen suspected Kurdish militants have been killed by Turkey's armed forces, just hours following a move by the government in Ankara to impose a curfew in the mainly Kurdish southeastern town of Silvan.
  • Turkish gag order hits arms-to-Syria trial Press TV 01 Oct 2015 -- A Turkish court has issued a secrecy order for the proceedings of the trial of former officials accused of intercepting arms which were being transferred in 2014 from the country to the militants fighting the Syrian government.
  • Fears Over Turkey Media Freedom Grow VOA 01 Oct 2015 -- A prominent Turkish columnist and television news anchor, Ahmet Hakan, has been beaten up outside his Istanbul home. The attack on Hakan, who faced threats over reporting that has been critical of the ruling AK Party, comes as concern grows nationally and internationally over media freedom in Turkey ahead of the November election.

September

  • At UN, Turkish Prime Minister urges action to end Syrian crisis UN News 30 Sep 2015 -- Recalling the heart-rending story of the little boy whose lifeless body washed up on a beach in Turkey last month, Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu today urged the United Nations to take swift action to address the deepening crisis in Syria and to protect the millions of people "fleeing war and tyranny."
  • Turkish warplanes hit 24 PKK targets in southeast Press TV 30 Sep 2015 -- The Turkish army says its fighter jets have hit 24 targets of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militants in the southeastern part of the country.
  • Obscure Turkish Law Draws Focus Ahead of November Vote VOA 29 Sep 2015 -- A little-used Turkish law against insulting the president is gaining new life. Well-known journalists and, increasingly, ordinary citizens, are being prosecuted and even jailed under the law.
  • Turkey kills over 30 PKK militants in cross-border raid: Erdogan Press TV 29 Sep 2015 -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says over 30 militants from the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) have been killed in a cross-border offensive by the country's army.
  • 22 militants killed in Turkey-PKK clashes in Sirnak: Turkish officials Press TV 29 Sep 2015 -- At least 22 militants of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) have been killed in clashes with Turkish security forces in eastern Turkey over the past few days, Turkish officials say.
  • Turkish Security Zones Prompt Human Rights Concerns for Kurds VOA 28 Sep 2015 -- The escalating conflict between the Turkish state and the PKK Kurdish rebel group has resulted in increased curfews and temporary security zones across Turkey's predominantly Kurdish southeast. But more and more questions are being raised over the zones' legality and their impact on a free election due in November.
  • Turkish commander killed in PKK clashes Press TV 27 Sep 2015 -- A Turkish major has been killed after clashes broke out with a group of outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militants in the country's eastern Tunceli Province.
  • Kremlin Says Turkish Pipeline Deal Moving Ahead Despite 'Difficulties' RFE/RL 24 Sep 2015 -- Plans for a new gas pipeline between Russia, Turkey and southern Europe remain intact despite 'difficulties,' the Kremlin said September 23, days after Ankara said talks on the deal were frozen.
  • Erdogan Blasts US on Support of Syrian Kurd Fighters VOA 24 Sep 2015 -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has criticized Washington over its support of Syrian Kurdish fighters of the People's Protection Units - the YPG, in its fight against the Islamic State. The dispute comes as tensions are renewed between the two NATO allies over the battle against the Islamic State.
  • Turkey's PM replaces resigned pro-Kurdish ministers Press TV 23 Sep 2015 -- Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has appointed two new cabinet ministers to replace the pro-Kurdish members of the government who resigned over a debate on how Turkey should handle a growing Kurdish militancy.
  • Kurdish ministers resign from Turkey's interim government Press TV 22 Sep 2015 -- Two pro-Kurdish ministers have resigned from Turkey's interim government, signaling new escalation in tensions between the Kurdish opposition and the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).
  • Pro-business Stance of Turkey's Ruling Party Questioned VOA 22 Sep 2015 -- Turkey's AK Party has witnessed unprecedented economic growth in its more than decade-long rule. Its pro-business policies increasingly are coming under question, however, amid police raids against leading businesses and what is seen as the demotion of a key pro-business figure within the party.
  • 2 Pro-Kurdish Ministers Quit Turkish Government VOA 22 Sep 2015 -- Two ministers from Turkey's interim government resigned Tuesday while fighting between Kurdish rebels and government forces continues in the country's southeast.
  • Turkey Alarmed Over Russian Military Buildup in Syria VOA 22 Sep 2015 -- On the eve of a visit Wednesday by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to Moscow, Turkey has dubbed Russia's rapid military buildup in Syria as "very dangerous.'
  • Turkish airstrikes reportedly kill 55 PKK militants in north Iraq Press TV 19 Sep 2015 -- Turkish fighter jets have pounded camps of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in northern Iraq, reportedly killing at least 55 militants.
  • How can Turkey protect itself and save Syrians? IRIN 14 Sep 2015 -- For four years Turkey appeared to be inoculated against the Syrian crisis. The violence that ravaged its southern neighbour was largely contained on the other side of the border.
  • Iraq calls on Turkey to coordinate strikes on PKK Press TV 13 Sep 2015 -- Iraqi Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari has called on Turkey to coordinate with Baghdad its military campaign against positions of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in northern Iraq.
  • Pressure Mounts on Turkey Pro-Kurdish Party VOA 10 Sep 2015 -- In Turkey, pressure is building on the pro-Kurdish People's Democratic Party, the HDP. Authorities are asking for the immunity of party leader Selahattin Demirtas to be lifted as he faces charges ranging from aiding terrorism to insulting the president.
  • Iraq condemns Turkey ground incursion as 'clear violation' Press TV 10 Sep 2015 -- Iraq has condemned Turkey for dispatching special forces into its soil in reported pursuit of Kurdish militants, calling it a 'clear violation' of its territory.
  • Turkey Deploys Ground Forces In Iraq To Pursue Kurds RFE/RL 09 Sep 2015 -- Turkey deployed ground forces across the border into northern Iraq on September 8 for the first time since 2011 to pursue Kurdish militants involved in attacks that killed 31 Turkish police in recent days.
  • Protests in Turkey Stoke Ethnic Tensions VOA 09 Sep 2015 -- Nationalist protests erupted Wednesday across Turkey after Kurdish PKK rebels killed more than 30 members of Turkey's security forces in the days since Sunday. Many pro-Kurdish HDP offices were targeted in the violence. Turkey's political parties called for restraint, but there are fears Turkey is edging toward an ethnic conflict.
  • Three reasons to pay attention to Turkey's Kurdish war IRIN 08 Sep 2015 -- As the world fixates on the Syrian refugee crisis, Turkey's conflict with Kurdish rebels has suddenly escalated rapidly. At least 30 security personnel have been killed in the past three days and Turkey confirmed today that its troops had entered Iraq in pursuit of fighters from the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), the first such incursion in years.

August

July

June

  • Military intervention in Syria to cost Turkey dearly: Opposition leader Press TV 30 Jun 2015 -- Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) has warned the government against any military intervention in neighboring Syria, saying such a move would cost Ankara dearly.
  • Turkish Opposition Party Warns Against Military Intervention in Syria Sputnik 30 Jun 2015 -- Last week, local media reported citing military sources that the Turkish government was planning to deploy troops on its border with Syria in an attempt to create a buffer zone and prevent Syrian Kurds, which have made significant gains in their fight against the Islamic State, from strengthening their positions.
  • Turkey Vows Retaliation, but Rejects Syria Intervention VOA 30 Jun 2015 -- Turkey has warned it will retaliate if it feels its security is threatened by either Islamic extremists or Syrian Kurds along its border, but it appears for now Ankara is not contemplating a broader go-it-alone intervention to establish a buffer zone inside Syria as some Turkish press reports suggested.
  • Kurdish Peace Process Affects Creation of New Ruling Coalition VOA 29 Jun 2015 -- In Turkey, the stalled Kurdish peace process is becoming a central issue in efforts to put together a coalition government, following the country's general election earlier this month. The recent military gains by Kurds against the Islamic State in neighboring Syria also is adding pressure to the coalition-building efforts.
  • Turkey considering military intervention in Syria: Reports Press TV 29 Jun 2015 -- Reports coming out of Turkey suggest that Ankara is preparing for a military intervention in neighboring Syria.
  • Kurds Accuse Turkey of Allowing IS Attack on Kobani VOA 25 Jun 2015 -- The Islamic State's assault on the Syrian town of Kobani on Turkey's border is putting Ankara under political fire.
  • Turkish MPs Sworn In as Coalition Questions Loom VOA 23 Jun 2015 -- Turkey's parliament reconvened Tuesday with a swearing-in ceremony for the newly-elected deputies following the June 7 general election.
  • Turkey Warns US About Kurdish Advances in Syria VOA 22 Jun 2015 -- Turkey has warned the United States and Western powers of red lines when it comes to the Kurds and their military advances against Islamic extremists in northern Syria, including a firm position the Kurds must not threaten the territorial integrity of Syria by seeking their own autonomous Kurdish State.
  • Turkey Political Crisis Deepens VOA 21 Jun 2015 -- Turkey's nationalists closed the door this weekend on forming a coalition with the country's main opposition party, seemingly setting the stage either for new parliamentary elections or for President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) to remain in power with nationalist support. The price for that, however, could be the end of peace talks between Ankara and the Kurds.
  • New Turkish Government Could Mean Policy Shift on Syria VOA 17 Jun 2015 -- Throughout the general election campaign, Turkey's opposition parties were united in their criticism of the AK Party policy of supporting Syrian rebels seeking to defeat President Bashar al-Assad's regime.
  • Turkey unhappy with Kurdish fighters' victories against ISIL Press TV 14 Jun 2015 -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has expressed grave concern over the recent advances of Kurdish fighters in the Syrian province of Raqqa where Takfiri ISIL terrorists are operating.
  • In Post-Election Scramble, Turkey Puts IS Fight on Hold VOA 11 Jun 2015 -- Hundreds of Turkish parliamentarians have six weeks to form a government. But after more than a decade of one-party dominance, and a history of failed coalitions in Ankara, experts tell VOA there may be little change in how Turkey deals with the biggest elephant in the regional zoo: the Islamic State.
  • Turkey's AKP Party Struggles to Mend Internal Rift VOA 11 Jun 2015 -- In the wake of its worst-ever electoral setback, Turkey's former ruling party, the AKP, faces a protracted analysis of what went wrong during its parliamentary election campaign – a debate that is expected to reveal a deep rift within its ranks.
  • Turkey moves to restrict inflow of Syrian refugees Press TV 11 Jun 2015 -- Turkey is taking a series of measures in order to restrict the inflow of Syrian refugees, who are fleeing the ongoing fighting between the terrorist ISIL militant group and Kurdish forces near Turkey-Syria border.
  • Turkey's Erdogan pushes for coalition amid uncertainty Press TV 10 Jun 2015 -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has held a surprise meeting with a senior opposition figure as part of purported efforts to form a coalition government.
  • Turkish Lawmakers to Seek Coalition After Election Surprise VOA 10 Jun 2015 -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan 'is open to'' all possible coalition options for a new government, including a partnership, which would exclude the ruling party that he founded, a senior opposition legislator said Wednesday.
  • U.S., Turkish Airmen Train in Exercise Anatolian Eagle AFPS 09 Jun 2015 -- U.S. Air Forces in Europe personnel are participating in Exercise Anatolian Eagle with the Turkish air force, Pentagon spokesman Army Col. Steve Warren told reporters here today.
  • What do Turkish elections mean for Syrian refugees? IRIN 09 Jun 2015 -- While the European Union celebrated Turkey's election results on Sunday as a victory for democracy, the nearly two million Syrian refugees living in the country may not have been greeting it with such good cheer.
  • News Analysis: The 'Nice Boy' Defeats Erdogan RFE/RL 08 Jun 2015 -- At the height of Turkey's overheated and insult-laden parliamentary election campaign last week, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan mocked Selahattin Demirtas, leader of the mainly Kurdish Democratic Party of Turkey's Peoples (HDP) --considered the political wing of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) - by calling him 'that nice boy.'
  • Turkey's Erdogan Calls for Responsibility After Election VOA 08 Jun 2015 -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called Monday for his country's fractious political parties to act responsibly in the aftermath of elections that ended his ruling majority in parliament, but financial markets quickly recoiled at the uncertainty.
  • Turkey's AKP Loses Parliamentary Majority VOA 08 Jun 2015 -- Voters handed Turkey's president a stumbling block to his plan to expand his powers when his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) failed for the first time to win an outright majority, its biggest setback in 13 years.
  • Turkey AKP loses absolute majority in parliament Press TV 07 Jun 2015 -- In a setback for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) has failed to win a majority in parliamentary elections, partial results show.
  • Support Slips For Turkey's Ruling Party RFE/RL 07 Jun 2015 -- Preliminary results from Turkey's parliamentary election suggest the ruling party of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan could lose its simple majority in Parliament.
  • Turkey Voters Reject Erdogan Bid for More Power VOA 07 Jun 2015 -- Turkey's ruling AK Party lost its absolute majority in parliamentary elections on Sunday - a stunning defeat for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's bid to rewrite the nation's constitution and create a presidential democracy. The results will force Erdogan's party to form a coalition government for the first time since he took power in 2002.
  • Turkey's Erdogan defends construction of new presidential palace Press TV 06 Jun 2015 -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says the reason behind the building of his new lavish presidential palace was that his old prime minister's office had cockroaches in its bathrooms.
  • Turkey's Vote Is All About Erdogan RFE/RL 06 Jun 2015 -- Turkish voters go to the polls on June 7 in parliamentary elections that are more about the fate of Turkey's long-time leader, President Tayyip Recep Erdogan, than they are about forming a new government.
  • Turkey's Election Outcome Difficult to Predict VOA 05 Jun 2015 -- Turkey's ruling party looks as if it will remain in the majority in parliament in this weekend's elections, with polls indicating it has a strong lead over its rivals.
  • Turkish President Attacks Pro-Kurdish Party as Election Nears VOA 04 Jun 2015 -- Turkey's general election set for Sunday is predicted to be one of closest in more than a decade for the ruling AK Party. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan increasingly is targeting the HDP, the pro-Kurdish opposition party, which is seeking for the first time to enter parliament as a political party. A surge in political attacks on the HDP has coincided with an increase in the number of violent attacks against the party.
  • Erdogan vows to punish journalist behind Syria trucks video Press TV 01 Jun 2015 -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says a 'heavy price' is looming for the newspaper which published video footage purportedly showing the country's state intelligence agency helping send weapons to militants in neighboring Syria.
  • IS Gains in Syria Threaten Rebel Links to Turkey VOA 01 Jun 2015 -- Islamic extremists overran three towns in northern Syria this weekend, capturing them from Western-backed Free Syrian Army rebels and Islamist brigades as Syrian warplanes struck widely across the north of the country, dropping barrel bombs on towns controlled by both competing insurgent groups.

May

  • Turkish Election Outcome Could Shape Syria Policy VOA 26 May 2015 -- The latest opinion polls in Turkey are predicting that the ruling AK Party could lose its majority in parliament in the June 7 election. Analysts warn a significant change in foreign policy could be looming regarding Syria and the influx of refugees into the country.
  • Turkey, US begin program to train, equip Syria militants Press TV 26 May 2015 -- Turkey and the United States have officially started a joint program for training and equipping the militants operating against the government in Syria.
  • Turkey's Main Opposition Party Hopes for Election Breakthrough VOA 22 May 2015 -- Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) has sought an image change ahead of the June 7 general election. The move comes after suffering successive defeats at the hands of the Islamist-rooted AK Party, which has portrayed it as hostile to religion.
  • Turkey - MK 15 Phalanx CIWS Upgrades DSCA 20 May 2015 -- The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to Turkey for MK 15 Phalanx CIWS Upgrades and associated equipment, parts and logistical support for an estimated cost of $310 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today.
  • Turkey, Other Syria Neighbors Say EU Should Take More Refugees VOA 20 May 2015 -- President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan says Turkey has spent nearly $6 billion on 2 million Syrians and Iraqis who have fled the conflicts in their countries and he says it is time developed nations do their "duty" and take in more refugees but there are few signs European Union countries are ready to do so
  • In Turkey, Erdogan's Election Rhetoric Draws Ire VOA 18 May 2015 -- As campaigning for next month's parliamentary poll heats up, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been pictured waving a Quran at an election rally and weeping during the reciting of an Islamic prayer, prompting opposition politicians to accuse him of breaking with the secular traditions of modern Turkey's founder, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, and enflaming religious passions.
  • Turkey says shot down Syrian helicopter Press TV 16 May 2015 -- Turkey has shot down a Syrian helicopter 'for violating its airspace,' Turkish officials claim.
  • Turkey arrests soldiers over Syria-bound arms interception Press TV 16 May 2015 -- Turkey has detained eight serving members of the Army in connection with last year's interception of an alleged arms convoy destined to Syria.
  • Turkey Opposition Nervous About Ankara's Syria Policy VOA 14 May 2015 -- Recent victories by the Syrian opposition are being attributed to a newfound unity among Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Qatar. Opposition parties in Turkey are not happy with the efforts between the countries, however, accusing the government of preparing to intervene militarily in Syria.
  • Turkey's Economic Woes at Center of Election Campaign VOA 12 May 2015 -- Turkey received disappointing economic news Tuesday with an unexpected rise in the country's current account deficit, caused by a severe fall in exports.
  • US-Turkish Pact Could Slow 'Jihadist Highway' VOA 11 May 2015 -- Washington and Ankara are close to signing a security deal to improve cooperation in stemming the threat of groups like the Islamic State (IS). In the face of strong criticism from its allies, Ankara has in the past few weeks stepped up its efforts to stop would-be jihadists from entering Syria to join the ranks of IS. But doubts remain over Ankara's priorities.
  • Turkish Border Crackdown Imperils Syrian Refugees VOA 11 May 2015 -- Turkish authorities have tightened controls, ending their open-door policy for Syrian refugees and making it more difficult for Syrians to enter Turkey and for international journalists to cover the war. There are even reports of people being fired upon as they approach the border.
  • Russian arms exporter reaches several agreements with Turkey at IDEF-2015 arms fair TASS 07 May 2015 -- Russia's arms exporter Rosoboronexport has reached a number of agreements with the Turkish colleagues at the International Defense Industry Fair IDEF-2015 in Turkey. The work on the agreements will be started in May, the company's delegation head Anatoly Aksyonov told journalists on Thursday.
  • Russian arms exporter offers its combat systems to Turkish Navy TASS 07 May 2015 -- Russia's arms exporter Rosoboronexport has offered combat systems of Russian manufacture to the Turkish Navy, the company's chief delegate at the IDEF-2015 weapons show Anatoly Aksyonov has said.
  • Turkey shows interest in Russian air defense systems - Russia's arms exporter TASS 06 May 2015 -- Turkey is showing interest in Russian air defense systems, Russia's state arms exporter Rosoboronexport Deputy Head Sergey Goreslavsky said at the IDEF-2015 arms exhibition on Wednesday.
  • Turkey to End Import Dependence of Defense Industry by 2023 - Erdogan Sputnik 05 May 2015 -- Turkey is going to completely abandon the import of defense industry products in 2023, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said at the opening ceremony on Tuesday of IDEF 2015, the 12th International Defense Industry Fair, in Istanbul.
  • Russian Arms Exporter Plans to Expand Deliveries to Turkey Sputnik 05 May 2015 -- Russian-Turkish technological cooperation will continue in joint projects to include short-range missile defense systems, tactical digital communications, orbital space systems, as well as various military and marine equipment.
  • Supplies of Antey-2500 missiles to Turkey fully within its powers to decide TASS 05 May 2015 -- Possible supplies of the Antey-2500 antiaircraft missile systems to Turkey stay fully within the latter country's powers to decide, Anatoly Aksyonov who chairs a delegation of the Russian state weaponry exporting corporation to the 12th international defence industry fair IDEF'15 told TASS.
  • Turkey Opposition Puts $16B Price Tag on Neighborhood Wars VOA 04 May 2015 -- Turkey's main opposition party says the Syrian civil war and the conflict in Iraq have cost the country more than $16 billion in the past four years in refugee costs, lost import and export opportunities, and reduced tourism revenue, and it blames President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for having worsened the economic fallout for Turkey from the neighboring conflicts by pursuing what it calls "wrong policies."

April

  • Armenia commemorates centenary of 1915 massacre Press TV 24 Apr 2015 -- Armenia has held a memorial ceremony to mark the centenary of the massacre of a great number of Armenians during the World War I.
  • Ceremonies Mark 100th Anniversary Of Armenian Massacre RFE/RL 24 Apr 2015 -- French President Francois Hollande has called on Turkey to use 'other words' to describe the mass killings in the Ottoman Empire of up to 1.5 million Armenians during the World War I era, referring to Ankara's refusal to recognize the massacre as genocide.
  • German President: Armenian Deaths 'Genocide' VOA 23 Apr 2015 -- German President Joachim Gauck for the first time Thursday called the World War I massacre of 1.5 million Armenians a genocide and said Germany bears some of the responsibility.
  • Armenian Mass Killings: Who Says 'Genocide' And Who Doesn't RFE/RL 23 Apr 2015 -- Armenians - and many others - say there is no doubt that the World War I-era mass killings and deportations of up to 1.5 million Armenians in the eastern stretches of the Ottoman Empire constitute the 20th century's first genocide.
  • 1915: The Crumbling Of An Empire, And The Massacre That Ensued RFE/RL 23 Apr 2015 -- The 1915 massacre of Armenians by Ottoman Turks was more than a systematic ethnic purge. It also was a desperate effort to save a once-great empire.
  • Australia, Turkey Aim to Stop Flow of Militants to Syria VOA 23 Apr 2015 -- Australia and Turkey have announced plans to stop the flow of Australians traveling to Syria to fight for Islamic radical groups. During a visit by Prime Minister Tony Abbot to Ankara, the governments say they are working to stop foreign fighters from using Turkey as a transit point.
  • Turkey Lobbies Obama on Armenian 'Genocide' VOA 21 Apr 2015 -- Ankara is becoming increasingly concerned about whether U.S. President Barack Obama will follow Pope Francis and the EU parliament in using the word 'genocide' on the 100th anniversary (April 24) of the start of the mass killings of Armenians. A senior Turkish official warns that political and military steps will be taken if the word 'genocide' is used.
  • Erdogan Strikes Nationalist Tone Ahead of Armenian Commemorations VOA 16 Apr 2015 -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has condemned the European Parliament and Pope Francis for describing the 1915 killings of Armenians at the hands of Turks as a genocide. With the centennial anniversary of the mass killings approaching, there is growing debate within Turkey's small Armenian minority about Erdogan's ruling AK Party.
  • Turkey says never possible to recognize 1915 Armenia killings as genocide Press TV 15 Apr 2015 -- Turkey says it will never recognize as genocide the 1915 killing of Armenians as the European Parliament considers whether to pass a resolution on the Ottoman-era massacre.
  • Turkey Unlikely to Engage in Yemen Military Operation - Parliamentarian Sputnik 14 Apr 2015 -- Turkey is highly unlikely to participate directly in military operation in Yemen and will limit its involvement to providing logistical support to Saud-led coalition at the very most, Member of Turkish Republican Party (CHP) Osman Faruk Logoglu told Sputnik Monday.
  • Turkey begins to construct first nuclear power plant Press TV 14 Apr 2015 -- Turkey has started the controversial construction of its first nuclear power plant, which Ankara hopes will bring a new era of greater energy self-sufficiency for the country.
  • Turkey's Erdogan voices anger over Pope's 'mistake' Press TV 14 Apr 2015 -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has expressed anger over Pope Francis' recent controversial remarks, where he used the word "genocide" to describe the 1915 killing of Armenians.
  • Slim Chance of Turkish-Kurd Talks Before June Election VOA 14 Apr 2015 -- Clashes between the outlawed Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK) and Turkey's military that left at least five dead in recent days are casting doubt on the chances of a long-running peace process advancing before parliamentary elections in June.
  • Turkey Furious At Francis Over Pope's 'Genocide' Comment RFE/RL 13 Apr 2015 -- Turkey is furious over Pope Francis's use of the word 'genocide' in a mass marking the centenary of the slaughter of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire.
  • Pope Uses 'Genocide' To Describe Armenian Killings RFE/RL 12 Apr 2015 -- Pope Francis has called the mass killing of Armenians by Ottoman soldiers during World War I 'genocide' at a Sunday mass where he marked the 100th anniversary of the tragedy.
  • Turkey Summons Vatican Envoy Over 'Genocide' Remarks VOA 12 Apr 2015 -- Turkey quickly summoned the Vatican's envoy to protest Sunday after Pope Francis marked the 100th anniversary of the mass killing of Armenians by calling it a genocide.
  • Turkey's Opposition Party Gains Political Traction VOA 03 Apr 2015 -- This week across Turkey, hundreds of thousands of members of the Republican People's Party, or CHP, turned out in primaries to choose candidates for June's general election. The unexpectedly high turnout and enthusiasm for the unprecedented primaries was a widely acknowledged success.
  • Turkey's Latest Violence Becomes Political Flashpoint VOA 02 Apr 2015 -- Turkey was rocked this week by a series of incidents in the air and on the ground.

March

  • Turkey Seen Taking Harder Stance Against Militant Kurds VOA 31 Mar 2015 -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan appears to be taking an increasingly hard line toward militant Kurds with continued strikes against PKK military bases in Turkey. That stance comes as the president is being seen as moving closer to his generals.
  • Turkish President Warns Iran About Trying to Dominate Middle East VOA 30 Mar 2015 -- Turkey's president warned it will not tolerate Iran dominating the Middle East, amid growing concerns inside the country that it will be sucked into a sectarian conflict with its neighbor. Observers warn that Turkey's newly-assertive policy has risks, given that relations with most of its neighbors are strained.
  • Turkey Supports Saudi-Led Attack on Houthis in Yemen Sputnik 26 Mar 2015 -- Turkey supports the regional military operation against Houthi militants in Yemen, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Thursday.
  • Analysts: Turkey's President, PM Vie to Control Ruling Party VOA 24 Mar 2015 -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's efforts to maintain his dominance over his country's politics are causing splits with his ruling AK Party. The struggle for control of the party now centers on who will decide which candidates it will run in June's parliamentary election.
  • Turkey President, PM at Odds Over Kurdish Peace Efforts VOA 23 Mar 2015 -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc are at odds over the government's handling of peace efforts involving Kurdish militants, whose insurgency has spanned several decades. Observers say the dispute is an indication of a deepening division within the ruling AK Party.
  • Turkey's Kurdish Leader Ocalan Calls on Rebels to End Fighting VOA 21 Mar 2015 -- In Turkey, imprisoned Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan has called for an end to decades of fighting by his Kurdish rebel group, the PKK. The call was made in a letter to Kurds celebrating Nowruz, or new year, in Turkey's predominantly Kurdish southeast.
  • Obama Urged To Recognize Mass Killings Of Armenians As Genocide RFE/RL 19 Mar 2015 -- Members of the U.S. House of Representatives introduced a resolution on March 18 urging President Barack Obama to recognize the mass killing of Armenians by Ottoman soldiers during World War I as genocide.
  • Missile sale to Turkey confirmed People's Daily 19 Mar 2015 -- China confirmed an agreement to sell the HQ-9 air defense missile system to Turkey on Tuesday, during the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace exhibition in Malaysia.
  • Azerbaijani, Georgian Presidents In Turkey For TANAP Ceremony RFE/RL 17 Mar 2015 -- Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili were in Turkey on March 17 to attend a ceremony marking the start of the construction of the Trans-Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP).
  • Turkey Braces for Expected Refugee Influx From Iraq VOA 17 Mar 2015 -- Turkish authorities are bracing for an influx of refugees from the Iraqi city of Mosul, predicting as many as 300,000 could flee to Turkey once an assault begins in earnest to recapture the city from the militants of the Islamic State.
  • Turkey enraged by US call for talks with Assad Press TV 16 Mar 2015 -- Turkey has slammed the United States for proposing open talks with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in order to end the crisis in the Arab country.
  • Turkey Uses Special Powers to Halt Metal Workers Strike VOA 12 Mar 2015 -- After just two days of a nationwide strike by Turkey's Metal Workers Union, the government invoked emergency powers to postpone the strike for 60 days, claiming national security was threatened.
  • Turkey's Erdogan, Central Bank Chief to Meet Amid Economic Turmoil VOA 09 Mar 2015 -- The continuing dispute between Turkey's president and the Central Bank chief has hit hard hit the country's economy hard. Observers warn that the threat of financial turmoil is unlikely to let up as the June general election draws near.
  • Turkey Cracks Down on Political Dissent, Again VOA 06 Mar 2015 -- Prosecutors are increasingly demanding jail time for people engaging in political dissent – from a former beauty queen to a top newspaper editor. And their efforts are likely to intensify in the run-up to June's general election even as human rights groups voice alarm over the crackdown.
  • ISIL leader hospitalized in Turkey's Denizli: Official Press TV 06 Mar 2015 -- Turkey has confirmed that an ISIL terrorist leader has been hospitalized in a facility in west of the country, further proving links between Ankara and the Takfiris who are wreaking havoc in Iraq and Syria.
  • Two Pilots Killed in Turkish Warplane Crash Sputnik 05 Mar 2015 -- Two pilots have been killed after a Turkish warplane crashed near the Turkish city of Konya.
  • US, Turkey Differ on Aims of Training Syrian Rebels VOA 02 Mar 2015 -- Turkey agreed in mid-February to join the United States in a train-and-equip program for Syrian rebel fighters, but Ankara and Washington have not ironed out their differences over the aims of the program.

February

  • Ocalan calls for disarmament of Kurdish fighters Iran Press TV 28 Feb 2015 -- Abdullah Ocalan, the imprisoned leader of the pro-independence Kurdish fighters in Turkey, has called on his followers to lay down their arms.
  • Syria condemns Turkey tomb operation as 'flagrant aggression' Iran Press TV 22 Feb 2015 -- The Syrian government has denounced the Turkish army's recent operation in the Syrian territory as an act of "flagrant aggression."
  • Turkey's Evacuation of Tomb Guards In Syria Draws Rebuke VOA 22 Feb 2015 -- Damascus is calling a Turkish military operation in northern Syria to evacuate dozens of troops and relocate a historically significant tomb an act of 'flagrant aggression.'
  • Kurds' Ascendance With West Further Isolates Turkey VOA 19 Feb 2015 -- French President Francois Hollande's hosting this month of the leading members of the Syrian Kurdish group, Democratic Union Party (PYD), is regarded as further evidence Turkey is becoming increasingly isolated and outmaneuvered by its Kurdish rivals.
  • Alarm Grows Over Turkish Security Legislation VOA 11 Feb 2015 -- Parliamentary opposition parties and the European Union are asking Turkish leaders to reconsider proposed new security legislation, but the government insists tough measures are needed following violent protests last October.
  • Turkish police officers arrested in eavesdropping case Iran Press TV 08 Feb 2015 -- Turkish police have launched a new wave of raids, arresting a number of police officers on suspicion of illegally eavesdropping on top officials, including President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
  • Iraq urges Turkey to stop flow of terrorists Iran Press TV 08 Feb 2015 -- Iraq has called on Turkey to step up border patrols and stop the flow of terrorists as the government in Baghdad is locked in fierce battle with the ISIL Takfiri terrorists.
  • Turkey's Bank Seizure Highlights Erdogan's Growing Ambition VOA 04 Feb 2015 -- Turkey's banking watchdog has transferred control of Bank Asya to a state-run fund, purging its executives with a decision that effectively hands over the Islamic lender to the government.

January

  • Congressmen urge Turkey to stop passage of ISIL terrorists to Europe Iran Press TV 31 Jan 2015 -- Senior members of the US Congress have slammed Turkey for allowing ISIL terrorists to enter the country from Iraq and Syria and travel to Europe to conduct terror attacks.
  • Erdogan slammed for seeking authority to dissolve parliament Iran Press TV 30 Jan 2015 -- A senior member of the Turkish opposition has criticized the president for seeking the authority to dissolve parliament, saying that such powers will turn Turkey into a dictatorship.
  • Germany, Turkey May Sign New Intelligence Agreement to Stop IS Fighters Sputnik 29 Jan 2015 -- Germany is planning to discuss a new intelligence agreement with Turkey to enhance border security to stop German fighters, traveling abroad to join the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq, according to German newspaper "Süddeutsche Zeitung".
  • Kurdish Party Pushes Political Gamble to Run in Turkey Poll VOA 28 Jan 2015 -- Turkey's pro-Kurdish HDP has announced it will run as a political party instead of fielding candidates as independents in June's general election. But if the party fails to secure the required 10 percent of the vote, it could open the door to the ruling AK party to achieve its goal of securing enough parliamentary seats to change the constitution and introduce a presidential system.
  • Turkey Pressures EU with Membership Ultimatum Sputnik 24 Jan 2015 -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that if the European Union (EU) is opposed to Islamophobia, it must accept Turkey within its ranks, the Hurriyet Daily News reports.
  • Turkey, Israel Ties Further Weakened Over Paris Attacks VOA 23 Jan 2015 -- Turkey and Israel have been exchanging angry barbs in the aftermath of this month's Paris terror attacks.
  • Secular, Religious Kurds Face Off in Southeast Turkey VOA 22 Jan 2015 -- Turkey's predominantly Kurdish southeast has been rocked by violence between secular Kurdish nationalists and their more pious compatriots. The region's main city, Diyarbakir, has become the epicenter of bloody clashes between the two groups.
  • Turkey arrests 23 in wire-tapping scandal Iran Press TV 20 Jan 2015 -- Turkey has arrested 23 people for wire-tapping senior government officials including President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
  • In Rare Move, Turkish President Convenes Cabinet VOA 19 Jan 2015 -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan convened a Cabinet meeting in a rare move Monday, raising concerns among critics of a power grab from what was once a largely ceremonial position.
  • 3,000 in Turkey linked to Daesh IRNA 18 Jan 2015 -- Around 3,000 people in Turkey are believed to be linked to the Islamic State (IS) jihadist group, a Turkish intelligence report said on Saturday, warning of possible attacks by extremists.
  • Turkey bans media reports on arms delivery to Syria militants Iran Press TV 14 Jan 2015 -- The Turkish government has warned the media against publishing reports that the country's National Intelligence Organization, MIT, delivered arms in 2014 to foreign-backed militants operating in Syria.
  • Turkey Targets Social Media Over Arms Scandal Leaks VOA 14 Jan 2015 -- Turkish authorities are moving fast to scrub the Internet of leaked official documents implying that a Syria-bound arms convoy intercepted by police last year was being coordinated by Turkish intelligence.
  • Turkey introduces tough new border policies for Syrians IRIN 14 Jan 2015 -- Turkey has quietly increased travel restrictions for Syrian refugees that could have a hugely damaging impact on aid agencies working in the country, IRIN has learned.
  • EU MPs to Warn Turkey on Press Freedom VOA 12 Jan 2015 -- The European Parliament is preparing to formally warn Turkey against violating press freedom, rebuking its government for last month's arrests and detention of dozens of journalists who have criticized Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his ruling Justice and Development Party.
  • Turkey to buy four additional F-35 fighter jets from US: Davutoglu Iran Press TV 08 Jan 2015 -- Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has announced plans by his country to purchase four more F-35 fighter jets and an additional five helicopters from the US.
  • Erdogan Says Anti-Gov't 'Parallel State' Threatens National Security Sputnik 06 Jan 2015 -- Turkish President Recep Tayip Erdogan said on Tuesday that the 'parallel state' driven by the US-based cleric Fethulla Gulen poses a significant threat to national security, Turkish Anadolu Agency reported.
  • Turkish MPs Clear Ex-Ministers of Corruption VOA 05 Jan 2015 -- A Turkish parliamentary committee has cleared four former ministers of corruption charges. The investigation followed controversial police probes into the allegations, which the government and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan described as a coup attempt by police.
  • Turkey Detains 22 Police Officers Suspected of Illegal Spying Sputnik 05 Jan 2015 -- 22 police officers, suspected of illegally wiretapping politicians, officials and businessmen, were arrested in Turkey, Reuters reports, citing Turkey's privately owned Dogan
    News Agency.
  • Turkey, US to sign deal on training Syrian militants Iran Press TV 05 Jan 2015 -- Turkey and the United States are taking the final steps to finalize an agreement to equip and train militants fighting against the Syrian government.
  • Turkey opens top officers' trial over eavesdropping Iran Press TV 02 Jan 2015 -- Turkey begins the trial of 13 former police officers on the charge of setting up bugs to illegally eavesdrop on the calls of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan while he was prime minister in 2011.



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One Billion Americans: The Case for Thinking Bigger - by Matthew Yglesias