Turkey Letter: 26 February, 2018

 

Foreign Policy:

  • Turkey formally requests Syrian Kurdish leader’s extradition
  • Turkey’s Erdogan looks to bolster Africa links in 5-day tour
  • Turkey seeks international pressure to end violence in Syria’s rebel-held eastern Ghouta
  • Turkey Says U.S. Decision to Open Embassy in Jerusalem Damaging Peace

Economy and Energy:

  • Turkey should ‘dance with new tune’ in industry: Top business organization chair
  • Turkey’s indigenous cars to be ready for sale by 2021: Turkish PM
  • Net foreign investment inflow into Turkey hit nearly $11 bln in 2017
  • 5 percent of tourism revenue comes from Turkish citizens living abroad

Domestic Politics:

  • Erdoğan denies rumors of Interior Minister Soylu’s resignation
  • Turkey remembers 1992 Khojaly massacre victims
  • Turkish Opposition Sounds Alarm Over Proposed Voting Law Changes

 

Foreign Policy:

Turkey formally requests Syrian Kurdish leader’s extradition

Turkey has submitted documents to the Czech authorities formally requesting the extradition of the former leader of a Syrian Kurdish party, Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag said on the 26th of February.

Washington Post, Turkey vows to expand Syria offensive east to Iraqi border, February 26, 2018


Turkey’s Erdogan looks to bolster Africa links in 5-day tour

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has started a five-day trip to Africa aimed at boosting his country’s influence in the continent.

Washington Post, Turkey’s Erdogan looks to bolster Africa links in 5-day tour, February 26, 2018


Turkey seeks international pressure to end violence in Syria’s rebel-held eastern Ghouta

Turkey is seeking ways to increase international pressure to help end violence in Syria’s besieged and rebel-held eastern Ghouta region, as President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan talks to his counterparts for a solution.

Hürriyet Daily News, Turkey seeks international pressure to end violence in Syria’s rebel-held eastern Ghouta, February 26, 2018


Turkey Says U.S. Decision to Open Embassy in Jerusalem Damaging Peace

Turkey said on the 24th of February a decision by the United States to open an embassy in Jerusalem in May disregarded decision by the United Nations and Organisation for Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and showed the United States insisted on damaging peace.

New York Times, Turkey Says U.S. Decision to Open Embassy in Jerusalem Damaging Peace, February 24, 2018


 

Economy and Energy:

Turkey should ‘dance with new tune’ in industry: Top business organization chair

Turkey should “dance to the new tune in the industry,” the head of the Turkish Business and Industry Association (TÜSİAD) has said, pointing to a need for digital transformation.

Hürriyet Daily News, Turkey should ‘dance with new tune’ in industry: Top business organization chair, February 26, 2018


Turkey’s indigenous cars to be ready for sale by 2021: Turkish PM

Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım on Feb. 25 said the prototype of Turkey’s first indigenous automobile would be ready next year and sales would begin in two to three years.

Hürriyet Daily News, Turkey’s indigenous cars to be ready for sale by 2021: Turkish PM, February 26, 2018


Net foreign investment inflow into Turkey hit nearly $11 bln in 2017

Turkey attracted $10.83 billion in net international direct investment last year, $7.44 billion of which was equity investment inflow, the Economy Ministry announced on Feb. 23.

Hürriyet Daily News, Net foreign investment inflow into Turkey hit nearly $11 bln in 2017, February 25, 2018


 22.5 percent of tourism revenue comes from Turkish citizens living abroad

More than 6.5 million Turkish citizens living abroad visited Turkey last year, bringing in more than $5.9 billion, the Union of Mediterranean Touristic Hoteliers and Operators (AKTOB) has reported.

Hürriyet Daily News, 22.5 percent of tourism revenue comes from Turkish citizens living abroad, February 25, 2018


Domestic Politics:

Erdoğan denies rumors of Interior Minister Soylu’s resignation

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has denied rumors that Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu is set to resign. “The resignation of our friend and this sort of thing is out of the question,” Erdoğan said on Feb. 26 at a press conference before departing for an official trip to Algeria.

Hürriyet Daily News, Erdoğan denies rumors of Interior Minister Soylu’s resignation, February 26, 2018


Turkey remembers 1992 Khojaly massacre victims

Turkish presidential spokesman İbrahim Kalın on Feb. 25 remembered the victims of the Khojaly Massacre, which took place in 1992 in Azerbaijan’s now-occupied region of Karabakh during the war with Armenia.

Hürriyet Daily News, Turkey remembers 1992 Khojaly massacre victims, February 25, 2018


Turkish Opposition Sounds Alarm Over Proposed Voting Law Changes

Turkey’s opposition said on the 22nd of February new electoral regulations proposed by President Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling party and its nationalist allies could open the door to fraud and jeopardise the fairness of 2019 elections.

New York Times, Turkish Opposition Sounds Alarm Over Proposed Voting Law Changes , February 22, 2018