News Scan for Turkey, July 14th 2016
Syrian rebels stunned as Turkey signals normalisation of Damascus relations
More than five years into Syria’s civil war, Turkey, the country that has most helped the rebellion against the rule of Bashar al-Assad, has hinted it may move to normalise relations with Damascus. The suggestion made by the Turkish prime minister, Binali Yıldırım, on Wednesday, stunned the Syrian opposition leadership, which Ankara hosts, as well as regional leaders, who had allied with Turkey in their push to oust Assad over a long, unforgiving war.
“I am sure that we will return [our] ties with Syria to normal,” he said, straying far from an official script that has persistently called for immediate regime change. “We need it. We normalised our relations with Israel and Russia. I’m sure we will go back to normal relations with Syria as well.” Though Turkish officials later claimed the remarks were made in hope, and did not imply a policy shift, both the Ankara-backed rebels and regional diplomats inferred that Turkey was softening its rhetoric in advance of a reset with Assad, whose allies have backed him into a winning position in the war.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jul/13/turkey-pm-greatest-goal-is-to-improve-relations-with-syria-and-iraq?CMP=share_btn_tw
Turkey’s current account deficit was down by one-third in May, the Turkish Central Bank said Thursday.
The 33 percent year-on-year fall reduced the deficit to $2.86 billion in May from $4.27 billion a year earlier, bringing the 12-month rolling deficit to $27.25 billion.
“Development in the current account is mainly attributable to the $1.724 billion decrease in the deficit in goods [foreign trade balance] item recording a $3.764 billion and $292 million decrease in the primary income deficit recording $442 million,” the bank said.
The month saw exports rise by just under a percentage point to $12.14 billion, while imports fell to $17.19 billion, a 3.8 percent decline.
http://www.dailysabah.com/americas/2016/07/14/turkeys-current-account-deficit-narrows-by-13-in-may
Turkey says NATO must take a role in regional unrest
Turkey has again urged NATO to change its security concept and provide support to Turkey in its endeavors against problems emanating from the Middle East, warning that European allies will face bigger problems in the future if the alliance did not take an action now.
“If NATO does not hold its responsibility today, it should comprehend that much bigger problems await Europe,” Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım said during his weekly parliamentary group meeting on July 12, echoing the warning issued by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan during the NATO Warsaw Summit last week.
Yıldırım emphasized NATO’s obligations to be more sensitive in the face of rising terror and regional unrest, adding it was Turkey’s right to expect more support from allied countries in its fight against terrorism.
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkey-says-nato-must-take-a-role-in-regional-unrest-.aspx?pageID=238&nID=101493&NewsCatID=510
Russia resumes scheduled flights to Antalya
Along with the recovering relations between Turkey and Russia, Russian airline companies started resuming regular scheduled flights to Turkey. Russian’s premiere airline, Ural Airlines, recently announced that regular scheduled Airbus A320 flights would start flying from Ekaterinburg to Antalya each Sunday from Aug. 7.
As relations between Turkey and Russia recover, permission for sales of tour packages to Turkey and increasing Russian attention for Turkey coincides with expanding permission for charter flights, Russian airline companies have started resuming regularly scheduled flights to Antalya.
http://www.dailysabah.com/tourism/2016/07/14/russia-resumes-scheduled-flights-to-antalya
Return of Russian tourists to Turkey could not come at better time
Last Saturday, a glimmer of hope landed in the Turkish beach resort of Antalya. The first convoy of Russian tourists in eight months stepped off an airliner to an extra helping of Turkish hospitality.
The smiling Russians were treated to champagne, flowers, and upbeat music as they toted their suitcases toward rows of eager taxis. It’s been a tough year for Turkey. Terrorism, the refugee crisis and diplomatic tension continue to threaten stability and prosperity. And foreign tourists have stayed away in droves.
During what is typically high season, Turkish Mediterranean resorts have scores of empty rooms overlooking the famed turquoise waters. Western tourists are largely absent from Istanbul landmarks such as the Hagia Sophia, Galata Tower and Grand Bazaar. Many hotels, shops, and restaurants have been forced to slash prices.
The near-total collapse of Russian tourism in Turkey began last November, when Moscow slapped economic sanctions and a travel ban on Turkey, after the downing of a Russian warplane along the border with Syria.
http://edition.cnn.com/2016/07/12/world/russian-tourists-turkey/
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.
14.07.2016
compiled by Editor BTT
