Turkey

ANKARA, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- An agreement between Turkey and the United States on establishing a safe zone in northeastern Syria is a "very good start," Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Thursday.

"The establishment of a framework has been agreed on. It is important to set up a joint operation center for steps that will be taken from now on," the minister told reporters.

8 Aug 2019; MEMO: Turkey and the United States agreed on Wednesday to establish a joint operation centre in Turkey to coordinate and manage a planned safe zone in northeast Syria, a move that appeared to reduce the chance of imminent Turkish military action, Reuters reports.

6 Aug 2019; AA: Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on Tuesday emphasized the significance of Asia, as an emerging power center. 

Addressing Turkish ambassadors at a dinner hosted by Foreign Economic Relations Board of Turkey (DEIK) and Turkey Exporters Assembly (TIM) in capital Ankara, he said economic power was shifting from the West to the East.

7 Aug 2019; MEMO: Visa-free travel between Russia and Turkey goes into effect starting today, said Turkish Foreign Ministry in a statement on Wednesday, Anadolu reports.

The measure is valid on a reciprocal basis for official and service passport holders as well as for international transport drivers, the statement said.

It also includes Turkish special passport holders.

ANKARA, Aug. 6 (Xinhua) -- Turkey and Iraq have agreed to establish a water resources center in the Iraqi capital of Bagdad to study and address water issues in the region, a move aiming to overcome the longstanding dispute between the two neighboring countries.

Veysel Eroglu, Turkish special representative to Iraq, announced on July 25 that both countries have drafted an action plan to address water issues amid scorching heat waves in the world affected by climate change.

ANKARA, Aug 5 (NNN-ANADOLU) -Turkey will launch a military operation in Syria’s terrorist PKK/YPG-occupied eastern Euphrates region, and it has informed both the U.S. and Russia of this coming operation, said the Turkish president on Sunday. 

“We entered Afrin, Jarabulus, and Al-Bab [in northern Syria], and now we’re going to enter east of the Euphrates,” Recep Tayyip Erdogan told an inauguration ceremony in Bursa, referring to other successful Turkish counter-terrorist campaigns in Syria since 2016, Operations Euphrates Shield and Olive Branch.

3 Aug 2019; AA: Air-to-surface missiles developed for the F-35 fighter jet could be used with Turkey’s locally-developed national combat aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), the country's industry and technology minister said on Saturday. 

Two countries developed the SOM-J cruise missile, said Mustafa Varank during a press briefing at the 22nd National Sky Observation Festival in Antalya.

2 Aug 2019; MEMO: Turkey has granted citizenship to more than 92,000 Syrians including children, the country’s interior minister said Friday.

“Nearly 92,280 Syrians, including children, have been granted citizenship. Among them, 47,000 Syrians are adults and 45,280 are children. Most of them are teachers, engineers and qualified people who can make their own living,” Suleyman Soylu told reporters at a news briefing.

2 Aug 2019; MEMO: Turkish and American military officials will meet in Ankara next week to discuss the establishment of a safe zone in Syria, according to an official statement Friday, Anadolu Agency reports.

Turkish National Defence Ministry said US officials would arrive to continue discussions Aug. 5 on the establishment of the safe zone in Syria.

31 July 2019; MEMO: Turkey sent military reinforcements to its southern Sanliurfa province late Tuesday, according to Anadolu Agency reporters on the ground.

A 12-vehicle military convoy, including armored vehicles carrying commando units and buses, arrived in the province’s Ceylanpinar district as part of Turkey’s recent military reinforcements along the border with Syria.

Turkey’s leaders have said it might launch a third counter-terror operation into Syria, following two successful ones since 2016.