News Scan for Turkey, September 22nd, 2017

Erdoğan, Trump discuss S-400 missile deal, KRG referendum in ‘positive’ meeting

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and U.S. counterpart Donald Trump discussed the regional developments in New York as the two leaders praised “the strong bilateral cooperation” between the two countries.

Erdoğan said that the meeting, which lasted roughly 50 minutes “was “positive” and the two leaders focused on Turkey’s S-400 missile deal with Russia and the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG)’s independence referendum in northern Iraq. The statement released by the Turkish presidency said Erdoğan and Trump reiterated their opposition against the KRG referendum, stating that the move would have serious consequences for the region’s stability.

Ahead of a meeting, Trump said Turkey and the United States were the “closest as they have ever been.” Erdoğan responded to Trump’s words, saying that he is a “dear friend.”

https://www.dailysabah.com/diplomacy/2017/09/21/erdogan-trump-discuss-s-400-missile-deal-krg-referendum-in-positive-meeting

US dollar extends gains against Turkish Lira after Fed decision

The U.S. dollar rose sharply against the Turkish Lira late on Sept. 20 after the Federal Reserve unveiled plans to wind down its crisis-era stimulus and hinted at another interest rate hike before the end of the year.

The U.S. dollar-Turkish Lira index hit 3.52 following the Fed’s decision, while it closed the day at 3.47.
The index rebounded to 3.51 early on Sept. 21. Markets will have an eye on the latest developments regarding the planned Iraqi Kurdish referendum, which has put pressure on the lira. After concluding a closely watched two-day policy meeting on Sept. 20, the Fed left interest rates unchanged as expected, but signaled it still expects one more increase by the end of the year despite a recent bout of low inflation.

As anticipated, the U.S. central bank also said it would begin in October to reduce its balance sheet of around $4.2 trillion in U.S. Treasury bonds and mortgage-backed securities it acquired after the 2008 financial crisis.

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/us-dollar-extends-gains-against-turkish-lira-after-fed-decision-.aspx?pageID=238&nID=118221&NewsCatID=344

Turkey to deploy troops in Syria’s Idlib as part of de-escalation agreement, Erdoğan says

resident Tayyip Erdoğan said on Thursday that Turkey will deploy troops in Syria’s Idlib as part of a de-escalation agreement brokered by Turkey, Russia and Iran last month.

The “de-escalation” zones, agreed by the three countries, would be further discussed in talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin during his trip to Ankara next week, Erdoğan said in an interview with Reuters while he was in New York for the annual United Nations General Assembly. “The de-escalation zone agreement was a promising idea … under which Russians are maintaining security outside Idlib and Turkey will maintain the security inside Idlib region,” Erdoğan said.

“The task is not easy … With Putin we will discuss additional steps needed to be taken in order to eradicate terrorists once and for all to restore peace.”

https://www.dailysabah.com/politics/2017/09/21/turkey-to-deploy-troops-in-syrias-idlib-as-part-of-de-escalation-agreement-erdogan-says

Turkish military reinforcements headed for Idlib enter Syria

The first military shipment from Turkey to Syria’s Idlib was made on Thursday. Armored vehicles and mechanical diggers moved through the Hatay Cilvegözü border gate in Turkey’s southeast into Syria. The vehicles that passed the border gate are waiting in the buffer zone.

Turkey has been preparing for an operation in Idlib for an extended period of time. Turkish troops will ensure the safety and security of Idlib’s population of 2 million that has been exposed to the horrors of civil war and massacres.
The Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) instructed the Free Syrian Army (FSA) to be prepared for the operation on Monday.

The FSA and TAF conducted the Operation Euphrates Shield to improve security, support coalition forces and eliminate the terror threat along the Turkish border.

http://www.yenisafak.com/en/world/turkish-military-reinforcements-headed-for-idlib-enter-syria-2794097

14 Detained Attorneys of Gülmen, Özakça on Hunger Strike Arrested

14 of the 16 detained attorneys of academic Nuriye Gülmen and teacher Semih Özakça who have been continuing their hunger strike in prison, have been arrested.

The 16 attorneys from the People’s Law Office that is representing Gülmen and Özakça were taken into custody on September 12, two days before the next hearing of the academics. The law office regarding the detention had said: “They want to leave Semih and Nuriye without legal representation”.

The attorneys were referred to the prosecutor’s office only yesterday (September 20) after being kept for nine days in detention.

http://bianet.org/english/law/190006-14-detained-attorneys-of-gulmen-ozakca-on-hunger-strike-arrested

Merkel says Germany will not import Turkey’s internal problems

Berlin does not want different groups from Turkey to spy on each other in the country, German Chancellor Angela Merkel had told Deutsche Welle in an interview on the eve of the general election in the European powerhouse.

“What worries us is that certain groups from Turkey may be spying on or surveilling each other. We do not want that,” the German leader said on Sept. 21. “We do not want to import any conflicts from Turkey to Germany. We will make sure all groups live here peacefully and unharmed,” she said, while responding to DW Editor-in-Chief Ines Pohl in the video interview.

Germany has long said goodbye to the times when it called people of Turkish origin in the country “guest workers,” Merkel said.

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/merkel-says-germany-will-not-import-turkeys-internal-problems.aspx?pageID=238&nID=118222&NewsCatID=351

22.09.2017
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.