Recep Tayyip Erdoğan

Turkey softens opposition to Syria conference

Agence France-PresseMay 18, 2013 07:49

Turkey has softened its opposition toward a Russia-US brokered international conference on Syria following Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's trip to the United States, local media said Saturday. "Erdogan has appeared to soften his stance about Geneva after meeting with President Obama," commentator Asli Aydintasbas wrote in the liberal Milliyet newspaper.

UN would have to decide on Syria no-fly zone: Turkish PM

Agence France-PresseMay 17, 2013 15:01

Any decision on an eventual no-fly zone over Syria would have to be made by the United Nations, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan insisted on Friday. "With respect to no-fly zone, I would like to make one observation: this is not a decision that could be taken between the US and Turkey," Erdogan told a Washington think-tank during a trip to the United States. "It is something that would have to come through the UN Security Council."

Erdogan rejects joint probe with Damascus on Turkey blasts

Agence France-PresseMay 15, 2013 01:00

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday firmly rejected a Syrian proposal to hold a joint probe over a twin car bomb attack that killed 51 people. "The administration in power in Damascus is illegal ... how can we recognise a structure that isn't even recognised by its own citizens," Erdogan told reporters before leaving for a meeting with US President Barack Obama in Washington on Thursday.

Syria says ready for joint inquiry on Turkey attacks

Agence France-PresseMay 14, 2013 09:05

Syria is willing to carry out a joint investigation with Turkey into deadly attacks in the border town of Reyhanli that Ankara has accused Damascus of masterminding, a Syrian minister said on Tuesday. "If the government of (Prime Minister Recep Tayyip) Erdogan calls for a joint, transparent investigation by the two countries, we have no objection, in order to find the truth," Information Minister Omran al-Zohbi said. rm/sah/hc

Syria dragging Turkey down 'vile path'

Agence France-PresseMay 12, 2013 11:46

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan charged Sunday that Syria was dragging his country down a "vile path" with attacks such as the twin car bombings in the town of Reyhanli, near the Syrian border, that claimed 46 lives. "They want to drag us down a vile path," Erdogan said at a rally in Istanbul, urging Turks to be "vigilant... and level-headed in the face of each provocation aimed at drawing Turkey into the Syrian quagmire." nc/gd/mfp

Taliban free four Turkish engineers in Afghanistan

Agence France-PresseMay 12, 2013 11:15

Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday announced that the Taliban have freed four of eight Turkish engineers taken hostage last month in Afghanistan. "Eight Turkish engineers were kidnapped recently in Afghanistan when their helicopter crashed. Thanks to the efforts of MIT (Turkish intelligence), four of them were handed over to us and are safe," Erdogan told a rally in Istanbul. nc/gd

Turkey condemns Israeli air strikes in Syria

Thomson ReutersMay 7, 2013 11:00

ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan condemned on Tuesday Israeli air strikes on targets near Damascus, saying they were an opportunity for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government to cover up its own killings. "The air strike Israel carried out on Damascus is completely unacceptable. There is no rationale, no pretext that can excuse this operation," Erdogan told a parliamentary meeting of his ruling party.

Turkey PM says Israeli air strikes on Syria 'unacceptable'

Agence France-PresseMay 7, 2013 06:15

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday said the Israeli air raids on Syria were "unacceptable." "No excuse can justify this operation," Erdogan told ruling party lawmakers in parliament after Israel's weekend strikes on the war-torn country sent regional tensions soaring. fo/ck/mfp

Turkey to finalise nuclear plant deal: minister

Agence France-PresseApril 29, 2013 09:46

Turkey is close to deciding who will win a $22 billion-deal to build its second nuclear power station, its energy minister said on Monday. "We are set to finalise this weekend the second nuclear power plant," Taner Yildiz was quoted as saying by the Anatolia news agency. The Turkish energy minister reiterated that Japan and China were "leading the race," without giving any clues about the likely winner.

Turkey PM says will go to Gaza despite US call to delay trip

Agence France-PresseApril 23, 2013 07:31

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday said he would go ahead with a scheduled trip to the Gaza Strip in May despite US calls to delay the visit. "There is no question of delaying this trip," Erdogan said on Turkish television. Washington had urged Erdogan to postpone visiting the impoverished Palestinian territory, saying it would be a "distraction" from US efforts to revive the moribund Middle East peace process. Erdogan stressed the exact date for his Gaza visit would be set after he visits US President Barack Obama at the White House on May 16.