Turkey Letter: 22 October 2018

Foreign Policy

  • Erdogan says Saudis planned murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi
  • US, Turkey to soon begin joint patrols in north Syria
  • In Khashoggi disappearance, Turkey’s slow drip of leaks puts pressure on Saudis
  • Turkey to host four-nation summit on Syria crisis
  • Mike Pompeo meets with Turkish president to discuss Saudi journalist’s fate
  • Russia and Turkey give more time for Idlib deal in Syria: U.N.

Economy and Energy

  • Turkey’s economy plan is good, practice to matter: European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
  • Giant refinery opens in Turkey’s İzmir for $6.3 bln investment
  • Turkish ship to continue explorations in Mediterranean, energy minister says
  • Turkey’s Tupras in talks with U.S. for Iran sanctions waiver
  • Turkey passes a crucial market test after months of turmoil

Domestic Politics

  • MHP says it will not ally with Erdogan’s AKP for Turkey’s local polls
  • CHP calls for investigation committee in parliament over Khashoggi’s disappearance

Foreign Policy

Erdogan says Saudis planned murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Saudi operatives planned and conducted the murder of a Saudi journalist in Istanbul three weeks ago, challenging the kingdom’s narrative that Jamal Khashoggi died in a brawl and vowing to identify the culprits.

The Wall Street Journal, Erdogan says Saudis planned murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, 23 October 2018


US, Turkey to soon begin joint patrols in north Syria

Turkish and American troops could begin conducting joint patrols in a matter of days around the northern Syrian city of Manbij within the coming days, the top U.S. commander for the Middle East said Sunday.

The Associated Press, US, Turkey to soon begin joint patrols in north Syria, 21 October 2018


In Khashoggi disappearance, Turkey’s slow drip of leaks puts pressure on Saudis

Since the Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi disappeared over two weeks ago, details from the police investigation, including descriptions of audio recordings that reveal he was dismembered, have been leaked, drip by drip, to keep the world suspended as the mystery unfolds.

The New York Times, In Khashoggi disappearance, Turkey’s slow drip of leaks puts pressure on Saudis, 19 October 2018


Turkey to host four-nation summit on Syria crisis

A summit between the leaders of Turkey, France, Germany and Russia will be held in Istanbul this month to discuss the conflict in Syria and efforts for a lasting solution to the war in the Arab country, a Turkish official said Friday.

The New York Times, Turkey to Host Four-Nation Summit on Syria Crisis,19 October 2018


Mike Pompeo meets with Turkish president to discuss Saudi journalist’s fate

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met on Wednesday with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey, trying to resolve the international uproar over the alleged killing of a journalist inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, and said that Saudi officials had promised consequences for anyone — even a member of the royal family — found responsible.

The New York Times, Mike Pompeo meets with Turkish president to discuss Saudi journalist’s fate, 17 October 2018


Russia and Turkey give more time for Idlib deal in Syria: U.N.

Russia and Turkey plan to give more time for the implementation of their de-escalation deal in the Syrian province of Idlib, a “great relief” for 3 million civilians in the area, U.N. humanitarian adviser Jan Egeland told reporters on Thursday.

The New York Times, Russia and Turkey Give More Time for Idlib Deal in Syria: U.N.,18 October 2018


Economy and Energy

Turkey’s economy plan is good, practice to matter: European Bank for Reconstruction and Development

The head of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, one of the top investors in Turkey, has praised the country’s new economic program, while stressing “implementation will matter.”

Hurriyet, Turkey’s economy plan is good, practice to matter: EBRD,19 October 2018


Giant refinery opens in Turkey’s İzmir for $6.3 bln investment

The first new oil refinery to be built in Turkey in 30 years has opened in the Aegean city of İzmir by Azeri oil company SOCAR in a ceremony attended by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev.

Hurriyet, Giant refinery opens in Turkey’s İzmir for $6.3 bln investment, 19 October 2018


Turkish ship to continue explorations in Mediterranean, energy minister says

A Turkish energy exploration ship will continue to operate in the Mediterranean Sea, the energy minister said on Friday, after Ankara said the navy stopped a Greek frigate from harassing the ship due to territorial disputes.

Reuters, Turkish ship to continue explorations in Mediterranean, energy minister says, 19 October 2018  


Turkey’s Tupras in talks with U.S. for Iran sanctions waiver

Turkey’s top refiner, Tupras, is in talks with U.S. officials to obtain a waiver allowing it to keep buying Iranian oil after Washington reinstates sanctions on the Islamic Republic’s energy sector in November, industry sources said.

Reuters, Turkey’s Tupras in talks with U.S. for Iran sanctions waiver, 18 October 2018


Turkey passes a crucial market test after months of turmoil

Turkey made a comeback in the international bond markets after receiving bids worth $6 billion for its five-year dollar-denominated bond. This means that companies and banks in the country now have better access to the international capital markets, allowing them to borrow at better rates.

CNBC, Turkey passes a crucial market test after months of turmoil, 17 October 2018


Domestic Politics

MHP says it will not ally with Erdogan’s AKP for Turkey’s local polls

The Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) has announced it will not ally with the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) for the March 2019 municipal elections amid a growing row between the two parties over a debate on “nationalism” and a proposed amnesty law, signaling an end to the “People’s Alliance” they had formed earlier in 2018.

Hurriyet, MHP says it will not ally with Erdogan’s AKP for Turkey’s local polls, 23 October 2018


CHP calls for investigation committee in parliament over Khashoggi’s disappearance

Main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu has proposed that an investigation committee in parliament should be set up to follow the case of the missing Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Hurriyet,CHP calls for investigation committee in parliament over Khashoggi’s disappearance, 19 October 2018