Europe

New attacks, delayed humanitarian aid mar Nagorno-Karabakh truce

Editorial Bureau October 15, 2020

BAKU/YEREVAN (AZERBAIJAN/ARMENIA) – Armenia on Thursday blamed Turkey for closing its air space to flights bound for Yerevan carrying emergency supplies meant for Nagorno-Karabakh where fresh fights have threatened to trigger a humanitarian crisis. Azerbaijan and Armenia traded

Middle East

Turkish minister says survey ship has begun operations in east Mediterranean

Editorial Bureau October 14, 2020

ISTANBUL (TURKEY) – Turkish energy minister Fatih Donmez said that a seismic survey vessel has reached the location in the eastern Mediterranean from where it will operate and take readings on Wednesday. In what is seen as a move to infuriate Greece, Turkey sent the Oruc Reis to a disputed area near the Greek island […]

Europe

US, Greece call for peaceful settlement of maritime disputes

Ren Leen September 28, 2020

ATHENS (GREECE) – The United States and Greece called on Monday for a peaceful settlement of maritime disputes in the east Mediterranean. This comes as US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo began a two-day Greek visit amid escalating tensions in the region over marine energy resources. Turkey and Greece, which are NATO allies, are in […]

Middle East

Talks with Greece to reduce tension may resume soon, says Turkey

Editorial Bureau September 20, 2020

ISTANBUL (TURKEY) – The spokesman of the Turkish president said on Sunday that Ankara and Athens could resume dialogue soon over their dispute on territorial waters. However, he warned against EU leaders imposing sanctions. Greece and Turkey, who are NATO members, have been disputing the extent of their continental shelves in the eastern Mediterranean. Tensions […]

Middle East

Pro-Kurdish MP in Turkey gets 10-year jail term

Editorial Bureau September 11, 2020

ISTANBUL (TURKEY) – A lawmaker from the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) was sentenced to 10 years in jail by a Turkish court on Friday for being a member of a terror outfit, according to court documents. Remziye Tosun, who represents the province of Diyarbakir, in Kurd dominated southeast Turkey, will remain free pending appeals, […]

Middle East

Women post black-and-white selfies on social media in solidarity with slain counterparts in Turkey

Editorial Bureau September 10, 2020

DUBAI (UAE) – Women across the world, from Dubai to South Korea, are posting their black-and white-selfies on social media as part of an online campaign against Turkey’s threat to withdraw from a European pact to protect women from violence. The photos started appearing last month under the hashtag #istanbulconventionsaveslives in solidarity with the photos of

Middle East

Ankara open to dialogue with Athens: Turkey foreign minister

Editorial Bureau September 1, 2020

ISTANBUL (TURKEY) – Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Tuesday that Ankara is open to negotiations with Athens as long as Greece is open too in order to resolve the deadlock over exploration rights in the Mediterranean. Both countries are NATO allies and they disagree with each other over conflicting claims to hydrocarbon resources […]

Middle East

Turkey to hold military drills off Cyprus coast amid tensions with Greece

Editorial Bureau August 29, 2020

ISTANBUL (TURKEY) – Amid growing tensions with Greece over disputed claims to east Mediterranean sea exploration rights, the Turkish government has said it will hold military drills off northwest Cyprus over the next couple of weeks. The long-running dispute between the two NATO members flared up after Turkey and Greece agreed on rival accords on […]

Middle East

Turkey won’t compromise over marine rights, says Erdogan

Ren Leen August 26, 2020

ISTANBUL (TURKEY) – Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday that the country is determined to do whatever it is necessary to obtain its rights in the Black Sea, Aegean and Mediterranean. “We will not compromise over what belongs to us …We are determined to do whatever is necessary,” Erdogan said. This comes a day […]

Middle East

No threats can prevent Turkey from marine exploration for resources: Erdogan

Editorial Bureau August 19, 2020

ANKARA (TURKEY) – No threats can prevent Turkey from exploring natural resources in the eastern Mediterranean, said President Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday, adding that actors in the region should initiate measures to de-escalate tensions. Greece and Cyprus are embroiled in a dispute with Turkey over overlapping claims to areas rich in natural resources. Turkey has