News Scan for Turkey, July 12th 2017

US embassy issues security message over Turkey coup attempt commemoration events

The United States Embassy has issued a security message over upcoming July 15 coup attempt commemorations across Turkey, advising U.S. citizens to avoid demonstrations and large gatherings.

“The U.S. Mission to Turkey urges U.S. citizens traveling or residing in Turkey to exercise caution and avoid demonstrations and large gatherings. Even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and escalate into violence,” read a written statement issued by the embassy on July 12.

The statement noted that on July 15 and the preceding days, government and non-government groups would stage large commemorations such as rallies and marches in public squares and other places throughout the country to commemorate Democracy and Freedoms Day.

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/us-embassy-issues-security-message-over-turkey-coup-attempt-commemoration-events–.aspx?pageID=238&nID=115421&NewsCatID=341

After a record-long march, main opposition leader in Turkey returns home

Head of Turkey’s main opposition party CHP (Republican People’s Party), Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, has arrived at his house in Ankara after having completed the Justice March, a record-long march of over 420 kilometers from Ankara to İstanbul which was held by the CHP chair and thousands of people who demanded justice in the face of jeopardized legal order and the parliamentary system.

Giving a brief statement in front of his house, Kılıçdaroğlu said: “I feel at peace for having reached home. I hope, all citizens of Turkey feel at peace, as well”.

http://www.birgun.net/haber-detay/after-a-record-long-march-main-opposition-leader-in-turkey-returns-home-169321.html

State of emergency could be lifted in near future, Erdoğan says

Turkey’s current state of emergency could be lifted in the not too distant future, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Wednesday.

Addressing foreign investors as part of the July 15 failed coup attempt commemorations, Erdoğan said that the state of emergency was in place only to assure that Turkish citizens lived in peace.

“We will end [the state of emergency] when it is no longer needed in our fight against terror. The FETÖ cases have slowly started take a shape. We also made progress in struggle against the PKK. Therefore, it is possible that the state of emergency, which [Turkey] applies in a very limited area, would be lifted in the not too distant future,” Erdoğan said.

The state of emergency was initially ordered by Parliament on July 21, and was imposed in the wake of the July 15 coup attempt.

https://www.dailysabah.com/politics/2017/07/12/state-of-emergency-could-be-lifted-in-near-future-erdogan-says

EU is wasting Turkey’s time, Erdoğan says

Turkey does not see the EU as indispensable, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said in an interview published Wednesday.

Speaking to BBC, Erdoğan said that Turkey would remain “loyal to its word” reiterating the country’s wish to join the union.

“If the EU, bluntly says, ‘We will not be able to accept Turkey into the EU’ this will relax us. We will then initiate our plan B, and C. The European Union is not indispensable for us… We are comfortable,” Erdoğan said.

The European Parliament adopted the annual report of Turkey rapporteur Kati Piri, suggesting the suspension of accession talks with Turkey Thursday. Ankara said the vote, which is not legally binding, is an attempt to sabotage the recent positivity surrounding talks between the bloc and Turkey.

https://www.dailysabah.com/politics/2017/07/12/eu-is-wasting-turkeys-time-erdogan-says

Turkish energy minister ‘to visit Israel for pipeline deal’

Energy Minister Berat Albayrak is set to visit Israel by the end of this year to conclude an agreement for the building of a natural gas pipeline from the Jewish state to Turkey, the Israeli energy minister said on July 12.

A visit by Albayrak would be a significant diplomatic move by Ankara after a rapprochement deal last year between the two countries mended a long-standing rift.

The crisis was triggered by Israel’s deadly storming in 2010 of a Gaza-bound ship which left 10 Turkish activists dead. But the two countries normalized ties in June last year and rapidly begun discussing the gas pipeline project.

Israeli Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz said both countries decided to accelerate efforts to conclude by the end of this year an intergovernmental agreement that will enable the construction of a pipeline from Israel to Turkey.

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkish-energy-minister-to-visit-israel-for-pipeline-deal-.aspx?pageID=238&nID=115419&NewsCatID=348

12.07.2017
compiled by Editor BTT

This is a news-scan from major Turkish papers and internet sites. However, we do not verify above stories neither do we vouch for their accuracy.