Türkiye, a NATO member for over 70 years, has complained of repeated provocative actions and rhetoric by Greece in the region in recent months.
President Erdogan says Greece's negative approach can't hurt Türkiye-NATO ties.
(AA)
Greece's negative statements to NATO about Türkiye cannot harm ties between Ankara and the alliance, the Turkish president has said.
"Greece's negative approach to NATO (about Ankara) does not weaken Türkiye-NATO relations," President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told reporters after Friday prayers in Istanbul.
Greece "has no value" in NATO, he said, adding the alliance is strong with Türkiye.
Türkiye, a NATO member for over 70 years, has complained of repeated provocative actions and rhetoric by Greece in the region in recent months, saying such moves frustrate its good faith efforts for peace.
NATO’s land command, LANDCOM, tweeted on Tuesday a post to mark Türkiye's 100th Victory Day, which commemorates the resounding defeat of the occupying Greek armies at the hands of Turks in the Battle of Dumlupinar in 1922.
LANDCOM deleted it after Greece lodged a complaint with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.
LANDCOM tweeted on Thursday a new post to congratulate Türkiye on the occasion of the Victory Day, saying: "We are thankful to have Türkiye as our host nation."
READ MORE:Türkiye will continue to respond to Greece's 'impertinence': Akar
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan:
- Greece has no value for NATO - There cannot be a NATO without Türkiye - Strong NATO requires Türkiye, without Türkiye NATO is weak pic.twitter.com/I5QogPBDXg— TRT World Now (@TRTWorldNow) September 2, 2022
Since the beginning of 2022, Greek warplanes have violated Turkish airspace 256 times and harassed Turkish jets 158 times. Greek coast guard boats also violated Turkish territorial waters 33 times.
Turkish jets engaged in NATO missions over the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean Seas on August 23 were harassed by a Russian-made S-300 air defence system stationed on the Greek island of Crete.
Greek military officials have denied the Turkish account of the actions, which are described as “hostile” in the NATO Rules of Engagement.
READ MORE: Erdogan: Greece challenged NATO, allies by intercepting Turkish jets
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvhvTKBPCok[/embed]
'Unacceptable'
Later in the day, the Turkish National Defence Ministry issued a strongly worded statement over the deletion of the tweet.
"It is unacceptable that NATO Allied Land Command (LANDCOM) removed the social media post celebrating Aug. 30 Victory Day and the Turkish Armed Forces Day...," the ministry said.
It said the official name given to August 30 by Türkiye is "Victory Day and Turkish Armed Forces Day", adding: "This is the will of our nation and cannot be changed."
The ministry said the deleting of the tweet upon the "unfounded request" of a country that does not hesitate to sabotage NATO missions by putting radar locks on Turkish fighter jets, "has greatly damaged NATO's corporate identity and prestige".
"Whether Victory Day is written or not, the fact that we won victory in 1922 cannot be changed," it added.
Source: TRTWorld and agencies
President Erdogan hails Azerbaijani counterpart Aliyev's efforts for "a just and sustainable solution aimed at stability and peace in the South Caucasus".
Azerbaijani has announced that the country’s army has been stationed in Lachin, and that villages of Zabukh and Sus have been “taken under control”.
(AA Archive)
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has congratulated his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev on the return of the city of Lachin, and two villages to Baku.
Erdogan expressed his appreciation for Aliyev’s efforts for "a just and sustainable solution aimed at stability and peace in the South Caucasus" over the phone on Saturday, Türkiye’s Communications Directorate said in a statement.
The Turkish leader reiterated Ankara's support for "brotherly Azerbaijan in every situation," and said he wished the normalisation processes between Türkiye and Armenia and Azerbaijan and Armenia to progress with the sides supporting each other.
Erdogan and Aliyev also discussed Türkiye and Azerbaijan relations and regional developments during the phone conversation.
On Friday, Azerbaijani President Aliyev announced that the country’s army has been stationed in Lachin, and that villages of Zabukh and Sus were “taken under control”.
READ MORE: Azerbaijan president: Troops deployed to strategic Karabakh city of Lachin
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZvh7gfPvkM[/embed]
Source: AA
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Scholars argue that the council requires reforms in order to ensure international peace and security by the UN.
The Communications Directorate of Türkiye is holding panels countries to emphasise the critical need for a UNSC reform.
(AA)
Türkiye's Communications Directorate has organised a panel on the need for UN Security Council reforms in Amsterdam.
Moderated by Turkish scholar Giray Sadik, the panel brought together Turkish professor Ozden Zeynep Oktav, European Parliament MP Ryszard Czarnecki and Alberto Turkstra, project manager of Brussels-based think tank Diplomatic World Institute.
Friday's panel kicked off with a video message from Türkiye's Communications Director Fahrettin Altun.
Altun said the UN has made significant contributions to peace and stability in various geographies of the world since its establishment. However, he said the UN Security Council needs reforms.
The UN has found itself in desperate straits in the face of recent human tragedies and wars, Altun said.READ MORE:Türkiye to hold panels in 12 countries for Security Council reform'More effective, more functional UN'
Türkiye’s demand for reform within the UN structure is an opportunity for the system to revise itself, Oktav told Anadolu Agency after her talk.
"Türkiye is not a revisionist country or a country that left the status quo with a demand for reform in the UN system. On the contrary, it makes an important contribution to the continuation of the existing system," she said.
She said that the UN remains "passive" over the threats Türkiye is facing, many of them stemming from irregular migration and terrorism.
Praising Türkiye's mediation role in Russia's offensive against Ukraine, Oktav said: "The agreement that allowed Ukraine to export grains was signed in Istanbul. In this respect, of course, Türkiye’s role is appreciated by Europe."
She criticised the US for being "a hegemon power that prefers prolonged wars" instead of security and stability.
Speaking at the panel, Polish politician Czarnecki said the UN was ineffective in solving the problems across the world.
"We demand a more effective, more functional UN," said Czarnecki.
He said the structure of the UN Security Council was established in 1945 with five permanent members.
"The world has changed a lot since then, we are in a completely different situation now, but this important structure still functions as it used to do 80 years ago," he added.
He called for a more balanced distribution of power to address international crises and conflicts.
For his part, Turkstra underlined the need for the change, saying: "We all know that this radical change in the UN is essential. Looking at the global structure, we need reform to ensure international peace and security by the UN."
READ MORE:Academics in London discuss reforms for UN Security Council
Source: AA
Türkiye's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says "with the efforts of our Coast Guard... we have saved the lives of 41,000 people who were left to die by Greece" in the Aegean sea over the last two years.
Ankara and global rights groups have repeatedly condemned Greece’s illegal pushbacks, saying it violates humanitarian values and international law.
(AA)
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said Türkiye saved the lives of thousands of migrants and asylum seekers illegally pushed back by Greece.
“With the efforts of our Coast Guard, we have prevented deaths in the Aegean," Erdogan said at a Gendarmerie and Coast Guard Academy's graduation ceremony in the capital Ankara on Monday.
"In the last two years, we have saved the lives of 41,000 people who were left to die by Greece," he said.
Erdogan said the number of migrants apprehended by the Turkish Coast Guard has reached 245,000, adding Gendarmerie continues its fight against irregular migration and human traffickers.
"If anyone still criticises our defence industry breakthroughs despite the military build-up in Greece, it means they have become deprived of strategic vision," he added.
Türkiye has been a key transit point for migrants and asylum seekers aiming to cross into Europe to start new lives, especially those fleeing war and persecution.
Ankara and global rights groups have repeatedly condemned Greece’s illegal practice, saying it violates humanitarian values and international law by endangering the lives of vulnerable migrants, including women and children.
READ MORE: Greece’s deadly pushback tactics, explained
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKfi4Od7DfI[/embed]
Source: AA
At least 35 people killed and dozens were injured in two separate road accidents in Türkiye, the latest of which occurred when a truck collided with first responders in Mardin's Derik district.
Six of 26 injured were reported to be in critical condition.
(AA)
At least 19 people have been killed and 26 others injured in a road accident in southeastern Türkiye.
A truck collided with first responders of another accident involving a truck and two vehicles in Mardin's Derik district on Saturday.
"Unfortunately, the number of people who lost their lives in the accident in Mardin Derik increased to 19," Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said in a statement on Twitter.
"The number of injured is 26, six of them in serious condition," Koca said, adding that all means were being utilised for the treatment of the injured.
Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu also tweeted that all teams were mobilised and the injured were being shifted to hospitals.
Earlier in the day, another traffic accident killed at least 16 people and injured 22 others in southeastern Gaziantep province, governor Davut Gul said.
At least 16 people killed and 29 others injured after a truck with break failure hurtled into pedestrians in Türkiye’s southeast city of Mardin – health minister pic.twitter.com/yXqWUf40ph
A passenger bus overturned and dragged for several dozen metres and hit a fire brigade and paramedic team responding to a traffic incident on the Tarsus-Adana-Gaziantep Highway, as well as a broadcast vehicle of a Turkish news agency, IHA.
The fatalities in the accident include three firefighters, four health personnel and IHA news agency journalists Muhammed Abdulkadir Esen and Umut Yakup Tanriover.
Gaziantep Governor also told reporters that the first accident occurred at around 0745GMT (10:45am local).
Over a quarter of grain and other foodstuff exported from Ukraine landed in Türkiye in the aftermath of a landmark deal reached to resume shipments from Ukraine's Black Sea ports, the UN said Tuesday.
Since Aug. 1, Türkiye received 26% of the shipments, followed by Iran and South Korea with 22% each, according to the data compiled by the Joint Coordination Center (JCC) in Istanbul which monitors the transportation.
China received 8% of Ukrainian grain exports, Ireland 6%, Italy 5%, Djibouti 4% and Romania 2%.
“From 1 to 15 August, the JCC has authorized a total of 36 movements of vessels (21 outbound and 15 inbound) through the maritime humanitarian corridor in the Black Sea to facilitate the safe exports of grain, foodstuffs and fertilizer, including ammonia, from Ukrainian ports,” the center stated.
The ships have carried “a total of 563,317 metric tons of grain and other foodstuffs.”
Last month, Türkiye, the UN, Russia, and Ukraine signed a deal in Istanbul to reopen three Ukrainian Black Sea ports for exporting Ukrainian grain stuck due to the Russia-Ukraine war, which is now in its sixth month.
To oversee the process, the JCC in Istanbul was officially launched on July 27, comprising representatives from the three countries and the UN to enable safe transportation of commercial foodstuffs and fertilizers by merchant ships.
Since the first departure on Aug. 1, a total of 21 ships carrying grain and wheat have so far left Ukrainian ports under the deal.
Speaking at a meeting of the Justice and Development (AK) Party's provincial heads, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Türkiye defends its national interests and achieves results with “effective diplomacy”.
Erdogan also said he hoped that the party will "crown this blessed struggle" by winning the 2023 elections.
(AA)
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said that the Justice and Development (AK) Party launched a new era in Türkiye two decades ago.
"Exactly 21 years ago, on August 14, we shared the good news of the founding of the AK Party with our nation, saying: 'Nothing will be the same in Türkiye anymore'," Erdogan told an event on Monday to mark the founding anniversary of the party.
Founded on August 14, 2001, the party burst onto the political scene under the leadership of Erdogan, who became the prime minister in 2003 and has served as the president since 2014.
The party swept to power in the November 3, 2002 elections, capturing two-thirds of the seats in parliament — the first party in more than a decade to win an outright majority.
"By stepping into the political scene 21 years ago, the AK Party started a new era in Türkiye and saved this country from the abyss," Erdogan said.
Erdogan also said he hoped that the party will "crown this blessed struggle" by winning the 2023 elections, and added that there is a lot more to do in the country.
"Türkiye is building its 2023 vision not to complete its deficiencies in democracy and development, but to be among the biggest in the world with its politics and economy," he added.
Speaking at a meeting of the AK Party’s provincial heads in the capital Ankara, the country’s president said that Türkiye defends its national interests and achieves results with “effective diplomacy”.
"Today, there is a Türkiye that fearlessly defends its national interests on all grounds, including at the UN and NATO, and gets results with its effective diplomacy," Erdogan said.
Erdogan added that Türkiye has strengthened its foreign policy, and gained prestige and self-confidence.
Türkiye, with its strong army, has conducted anti-terror operations to defend its national security "without seeking anyone's approval", he said, adding that in the last 21 years, Türkiye has become a "more democratic and freer" country that has equal opportunities for the citizens.
The AK Party has marked resounding election wins since its founding.
Twelve vessels carrying more than 370,000 metric tonnes of grain and other foodstuffs have been authorised to leave Ukrainian ports, while several more grain vessels in Turkish waters await contracts.
Ukraine's grain had been stuck for months because of the ongoing conflict with Russia, now in its sixth month.
(Reuters Archive)
Ukraine has exported nearly 400,000 tonnes of grain in the first week following the announcement of a deal brokered by Türkiye to address global food insecurity.
Twelve vessels carrying more than 370,000 metric tonnes of grain and other foodstuffs have been authorised to leave Ukrainian ports, the interim Coordinator for the UN at the Joint Coordination Centre, Frederick Kenney, said.
"We have seen tremendous interest from ship owners in terms of their willingness to make this transit," Kenney told reporters in New York on Wednesday.
"We're expecting to see a big uptick in applications."
Several empty grain vessels are sitting in Turkish waters waiting to arrange contracts. Once their deals are arranged, they will be transiting northbound, he added.
The vessels departing Ukrainian ports were loaded with corn and other foodstuffs and the first Ukrainian wheat shipment is expected next week.
"We actually have cleared the first ship inbound that's going to be picking up the wheat according to our records and that should occur sometime next week," said Kenney.
Türkiye, the UN, Russia and Ukraine signed a landmark deal on July 22 to reopen three Ukrainian ports — Odessa, Chornomorsk and Yuzhny — for grain that had been stuck for months because of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, now in its sixth month.
Türkiye's presidential spokesman Kalin said the perpetrators of murders must be brought to justice as soon as possible.
Muslim men pray over the grave of Muhammad Afzaal Hussain, 27, at Fairview Memorial Park in Albuquerque, N.M., on Friday, Aug. 5, 2022.
(AP)
The spokesman for Türkiye's president has condemned the killing of four Muslim men in the US city of Albuquerque, New Mexico.
"We are deeply worried about these serial murders," Ibrahim Kalin said on Twitter, underlining the need to shine a light on the killings and for the perpetrators to be brought to justice as soon as possible.
After a Muslim man was killed in the southern state of New Mexico on Friday, authorities said they were working to determine if his murder was linked to three others over the past nine months.
Albuquerque Police Chief Harold Medina said the killing could be linked to three other Muslim men who were killed in "ambush-style shootings."
'Hateful attacks'
US President Joe Biden also condemned the killing of four Muslim men in the southern state of New Mexico.
"I am angered and saddened by the horrific killings of four Muslim men in Albuquerque," Biden tweeted.
Noting that a full investigation on the matter is underway, he underlined that his administration strongly stands with the US Muslim community.
"These hateful attacks have no place in America," Biden said.
While authorities reiterated a request for anyone with information on the killings to contact the police, it was reported that security measures were increased in certain areas of the city where the Muslim community resides.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the country's largest Muslim civil rights organisation, increased a reward to $10,000 from $5,000 for information leading to the suspect or suspects related to the killings.
Albuquerque police official Kyle Hartsock said Thursday that the person or persons who killed the Muslims may be the same individual or individuals.
Türkiye's defence minister underlined that they continue to work with Russian, Ukrainian and UN officials for the smooth functioning of the grain ships under Ankara-brokered deal.
Türkiye, the UN, Russia, and Ukraine signed the landmark deal on July 22 to reopen three Ukrainian ports for grain shipments.
(AA)
Three ships carrying grain and foodstuffs will depart from Ukrainian ports on Friday under a recent landmark deal, Türkiye's top defence official has announced.
"With the intensive work of the Joint Coordination Center, three ships are planned to begin sailing tomorrow from Ukraine's ports within the scope of grain shipments," Türkiye's National Defence Minister Hulusi Akar said on Thursday.
An empty ship is also expected to arrive in Istanbul, where the Joint Coordination Center is located, for inspections before leaving for Ukraine, Akar added.
Akar underlined that they continued to work with Russian, Ukrainian and UN officials for the smooth functioning of the system under the deal.
Having held separate meetings with Ukraine's Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov and Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov, Hulusi Akar exchanged views on the efforts of grain shipments and the latest situation.
Türkiye, the UN, Russia, and Ukraine signed the landmark deal on July 22 to reopen three Ukrainian ports — Odessa, Chernomorsk, and Yuzhny — for grain that has been stuck for months due to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, which is now in its sixth month.
To oversee Ukrainian grain exports, the Joint Coordination Center in Istanbul was officially launched on July 27.
The centre consists of representatives from Türkiye, the UN, Russia, and Ukraine, and aims to enable the safe transportation by merchant ships of commercial foodstuffs and fertilisers from the three key Ukrainian Black Sea ports.
On Monday, the first ship to leave Ukraine under the agreement, the Sierra Leone-flagged cargo vessel Razoni, departed from Odessa carrying over 26,500 tons of corn, got security clearance in Istanbul, and is on its way to the Lebanese port of Tripoli, its final destination.
The European Union and NATO have also welcomed the grain shipment departure from Ukraine as a "first step" towards easing the global food crisis.
The dry cargo ship Razoni is due to arrive in Istanbul on Tuesday for an inspection under the historic Ankara-brokered agreement to facilitate grain and foodstuff exports.
(Emrah Yorulmaz / AA)
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has thanked Türkiye for its efforts and leadership as a nascent deal to resume grain exports from Ukraine saw its first ship depart from the port of Odessa.
The departure of the Sierra Leone-flagged dry cargo ship Razoni marked an "important starting point" for the agreement, Guterres said on Monday.
"It must be the first of many commercial ships bringing relief and stability to global food markets," he added.
"Today's departure is an enormous collective achievement by the Joint Coordination Center, set up last week in Istanbul under United Nations auspices, with representatives from Ukraine, the Russian Federation, and Türkiye," the UN chief told reporters.
"Ensuring that grain, fertilisers, and other food-related items are available at reasonable prices to developing countries is a humanitarian imperative. People on the verge of famine need these agreements to work in order to survive," he said.
Joint Coordination Center in Istanbul to inspect all grain ships leaving Ukraine to ensure they aren't carrying any weapons pic.twitter.com/qacaoMhgwn
The Razoni is due to arrive in Istanbul on Tuesday for an inspection under the historic Ankara-brokered agreement to facilitate grain and foodstuff exports. The vessel is bound for the Lebanese port of Tripoli in the country's north.
Türkiye, the UN, Russia, and Ukraine signed a deal on July 22 to reopen three Ukrainian ports — Odessa, Chernomorsk, and Yuzhny — for grain that has been stuck for months because of ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, which is now in its sixth month.
The European Union and NATO welcomed the grain shipment's departure as a "first step" towards easing the food crisis.
The agreements signed by Ukraine, Russia, Turkey & @UN are a critical step in overcoming the global food insecurity caused by Russia‘s aggression against Ukraine.
EU remains committed to help #Ukraine bring as much of its grain into global markets as possible.
— Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) July 22, 2022
EU spokesperson Peter Stano, however, cautions the bloc still expects the "implementation of the whole deal and resumption of Ukrainian exports to the customers around the world."
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said, Western allies "strongly support the full implementation of the deal to ease the global food crisis caused by Russia's war in Ukraine".
"I thank our Ally #Türkiye for its pivotal role," he continued in a tweet.
I welcome the 1st shipment of Ukrainian grain from Odesa under the @UN-brokered deal. I thank our Ally #Türkiye for its pivotal role. #NATO Allies strongly support the full implementation of the deal to ease the global food crisis caused by Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Ukrainian Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov said on Twitter that the first grain ship has left, adding: "Thanks to the support of all our partner countries & @UN we were able to full implement the Agreement signed in Istanbul."
The first 🇺🇦 grain ship since #RussianAggression has left port. Thanks to the support of all our partner countries & @UN we were able to full implement the Agreement signed in Istanbul. It’s important for us to be one of the guarantors of 🌏 food security. pic.twitter.com/jOz3bdmdfB
Ankara expects its allies to support its anti-terror efforts rather than just saying "we understand your concerns", says Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu.
Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu met with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, who came to Istanbul for a working visit.
(AA)
Türkiye has voiced concerns over Germany's counter-terrorism efforts and said it expects concrete steps.
"We see an increase in (terrorist) PKK activities in Germany, and have conveyed Türkiye's concerns ... we expect concrete action," Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told a joint press conference with his German counterpart Annalena Baerbock in Istanbul on Friday.
Cavusoglu said Türkiye expects its allies to support its anti-terror efforts rather than just saying "we understand your concerns."
Türkiye expects the European Union to lift political obstacles for its membership in the bloc, Cavusoglu said, and also conveyed Ankara's apprehensions over rising xenophobia and anti-Muslim sentiment in Europe.
Cavusoglu on Greek pushbacks of migrants:
- Greek propoganda shouldn't lead to imbalance - Frontex is complicit in Greek migrants pushbacks - Greece not able to respond to int law pic.twitter.com/lrYNcKCpiE
Cavusoglu urged Germany to be wary of provocations and propaganda by Greece and the Greek Cypriot administration, stressing for the need for a balanced stance.
Arguing that Germany lost its impartiality, Cavusoglu said: "Germany should keep its balanced attitude regarding the Aegean and East Mediterranean."
The Turkish minister said that turning a blind eye to Greece's human rights abuses is violation of international law.
"Greece's pushbacks, leaving people to die does not amount to protecting EU borders. It is inhumane to turn a blind eye ... I would've respected if the minister (Baerbock) mentioned about European Convention on Human Rights' decisions that have not been implemented in Greece for 14 years (on Turkish minority)," Cavusoglu said.
The top Turkish diplomat also mentioned Greek militarisation of Eastern Aegean islands, and lambasted Germany for siding with Athens "just because it is an EU member."
She also called praised the recent Ankara-brokered Ukraine grain deal, saying it was a "great success."
Ministers of Turkish defence and Ukraine's infrastructure stressed the need for the continuation of reciprocal support and coordination in the process.
The Joint Coordination Center in Istanbul was opened on Wednesday in a ceremony in which the Turkish defence chief took part.
(Reuters)
Türkiye’s national defence minister and Ukraine’s infrastructure minister spoke by phone about preparations for Ukrainian grain shipments from the country’s Black Sea ports, said the Turkish National Defence Ministry.
Hulusi Akar and Oleksandr Kubrakov expressed satisfaction on Wednesday over the opening of the Joint Coordination Center by the two countries, the ministry said in a statement.
The two ministers also exchanged ideas on the preparations for the grain shipments, which are supposed to start this week.
Akar and Kubrakov stressed the need for the continuation of reciprocal support and coordination in the process, the statement added.
The Joint Coordination Center in Istanbul was opened on Wednesday in a ceremony in which the Turkish defence chief took part.
Türkiye, the UN, Russia and Ukraine signed a deal last week to reopen three Ukrainian ports – Odesa, Chernomorsk and Yuzhny – for grain stuck for months due to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, which has entered its sixth month.
The deal came after a general agreement was reached between stakeholders on a UN-led plan during talks on July 13 to establish a coordination center in Istanbul to carry out joint inspections at the entrance and exit of the harbors and to ensure the safety of the routes.
Internationally praised for its mediator role, Türkiye coordinated with Moscow and Kiev to open a corridor from the Ukrainian port city of Odesa to resume global grain shipments.
Türkiye’s president on Monday called on the parties who signed a deal last week to unblock Ukraine’s Black Sea grain exports to respect and implement the pact.
"We expect everyone to take ownership of their signatures and act in accordance with their responsibilities," Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in a live interview with national broadcaster TRT Haber.
"With this agreement, the effects of the global food crisis, which is reaching serious dimensions, will begin to ease," he added.
On Friday, Türkiye, the UN, Russia, and Ukraine signed a landmark deal to resume grain exports through the Ukrainian ports of Odesa, Chernomorsk and Yuzhny after months of blockage due to the Russia-Ukraine war, now in its sixth month.
Under the deal, a joint coordination center was set up in Istanbul to carry out inspections at the entrances and exits of harbors, and to ensure the safety of the routes.
Addressing Russia's weekend attack on the port of Odesa, Erdogan said it "saddens" Türkiye, adding that "a failure here would work against all of us."
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says the agreement on Ukrainian grain exports signed in Istanbul a day ago was an important success.
Internationally praised for its mediator role, Türkiye has coordinated with Moscow and Kiev to open a corridor from the Ukrainian port city of Odessa to restart shipments stuck due to the Russia-Ukraine war, now in its fifth month.
(AA)
Türkiye is determined to forge ahead with its diplomatic efforts until there is peace between Russia and Ukraine, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said.
Speaking at an event in the central Kayseri province on Saturday, Erdogan said the agreement on Ukrainian grain exports signed in Istanbul was an important success.
Türkiye is making a “substantial contribution” to efforts to overcome a global food crisis, he added.
With the mediation of Türkiye and the UN, Kyiv and Moscow signed an agreement in Istanbul to resume Ukrainian grain shipments from Black Sea ports.
Under the deal, reached on a UN-led plan during talks in Istanbul, a coordination centre will be established to carry out joint inspections at the entrances and exits of harbours, and to ensure the safety of the routes.
Internationally praised for its mediator role, Türkiye has coordinated with Moscow and Kiev to open a corridor from the Ukrainian port city of Odessa to restart shipments stuck due to the Russia-Ukraine war, now in its fifth month.
Türkiye also hosted a meeting between the Russian and Ukrainian foreign ministers in the Mediterranean city of Antalya in March, part of its push to forge peace between the warring sides.
Recent decisions violate the Turkish minority's right to establish, manage and inspect their own schools, says the Turkish Foreign Ministry.
Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Tanju Bilgic, urged Greece to put an end to its discriminatory policies toward Turkish minority schools year after year.
(AA)
Türkiye has condemned Greece's decision of closing four more primary schools belonging to the Turkish Muslim minority in Western Thrace for the ongoing school year.
“With this latest decision, more than half of the Minority primary schools have been closed. Thus, Greece's policy of closing primary schools belonging to the Turkish Muslim Minority in Western Thrace through 'temporary suspension' has proven to be systematic,” Tanju Bilgic, the country's Foreign Ministry spokesperson, said in a statement on Friday.
Bilgic reiterated the Turkish minority's right to establish, manage and inspect their own schools in accordance with the Treaty of Lausanne signed in 1923 – which eventually paved the way for an independent Turkish republic.
He said the recent moves show the “discriminatory and oppressive policies” implemented against the Turkish minority in the field of education.
“While Greece closes primary schools with the pretext of insufficient number of students, it ignores, on the other hand, the demands for opening new Minority secondary/high schools despite the obvious need, and violates the education rights of Minority children,” Bilgic noted.
He urged Greece to put an end to its discriminatory policies toward Turkish minority schools year after year.
“Republic of Türkiye will continue to support the Minority's struggle for its rights and justice, both in bilateral contacts and international platforms,” he added.
Greece's Western Thrace region is home to some 150,000 Muslim Turks, whose rights to elect their own religious leaders, found Turkish associations, and have their own schools have been denied by Athens, in violation of European court orders.
Ankara urges Greece to respect international law, fulfill obligations stemming from Lausanne Peace Treaty on Turkish minority in Western Thrace
