More than 3,000 Syrians flee fighting for Turkey where critical election looms

More than 3,000 Syrians flee fighting for Turkey where critical election looms

Special to WorldTribune.com Turkey’s government reported that 3,337 Syrians had crossed into Turkey from Syria since June 3 amid heavy fighting between Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) and Kurdish forces. The Kurds are attempting to push ISIL out of Tel Abyad in Syria’s Hassakah province which is close to Turkey’s border town of […]

EU to Turkey on out-of-synch security policies: ‘We need to improve’

EU to Turkey on out-of-synch security policies: ‘We need to improve’

Special to WorldTribune.com ANKARA — Turkey has drifted from European Union foreign and security policy. The EU has determined that relations with Ankara was at their lowest point in decades. Officials said Turkey’s cooperation with Brussels dropped from 80 percent to 30 percent over the last decade. “We need to improve on the alignment on […]

Turkey’s war on Kurdish protesters boosts firm owned by Erdogan ally

Turkey’s war on Kurdish protesters boosts firm owned by Erdogan ally

Special to WorldTribune.com ANKARA — Kurdish unrest has bolstered the fortunes of a Turkish armored vehicle producer. The expanded use by the Turkish police and security forces of riot control vehicles has sent stocks of producer Katmerciler Ekipman rising rapidly in October 2014. In a two-day period in mid-October, Katmerciler stocks shot up by 20 […]

Forced landing of U.S. F-15 hit by ISIL fire spotlights Turkey’s neutrality in new war

Forced landing of U.S. F-15 hit by ISIL fire spotlights Turkey’s neutrality in new war

Special to WorldTribune.com ANKARA — Turkey has been quietly helping in the U.S. war against Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant but unlike other NATO partners is trying maintain its neutrality. Officials said President Recep Erdogan has approved a U.S. request to allow fighter-jets to use Turkish air space for operations in northern Iraq. […]

Turkey forms new agency for border security and surveillance

Turkey forms new agency for border security and surveillance

Special to WorldTribune.com ANKARA — Turkey, fighting infiltration from such neighbors as Iran, Iraq and Syria, plans to form a border security agency. Officials said the government of Prime Minister Recep Erdogan has approved plans for a border security enforcement agency. The officials said the agency, under the auspices of the Interior Ministry, would be […]

U.S. continues tear gas shipments to Turkey despite crackdown on dissent

U.S. continues tear gas shipments to Turkey despite crackdown on dissent

Special to WorldTribune.com WASHINGTON — The United States plans to maintain security exports to Turkey amid massive unrest. Officials have acknowledged that the administration of President Barack Obama was approving licenses for security equipment to Turkey. The U.S. security exports, including tear gas, were being delivered to Turkish police who have been clashing with protesters […]

Turkey sends military convoy with 300 troops into Syria to protect tomb

Turkey sends military convoy with 300 troops into Syria to protect tomb

Special to WorldTribune.com ANKARA — Turkey has acknowledged military operations in Syria. Prime Minister Recep Erdogan said Turkish troops were sent to northern Syria to protect the tomb of Suleyman Shah. Erdogan said a military convoy was sent to the tomb, some 25 kilometers inside Syria and under Turkish sovereignty. “The job of our convoy […]

Turkey’s Erdogan fires longtime defense chief without explanation

Turkey’s Erdogan fires longtime defense chief without explanation

Special to WorldTribune.com ANKARA — Turkey, in a purge of opponents of Prime Minister Recep Erdogan, has dismissed its defense procurement chief. Officials said Erdogan ordered the firing of Defense Industry Undersecretary Murad Bayar. They said Bayar was dismissed in a decision recorded on March 27. Turkey’s Official Gazette confirmed the removal of Bayar, who […]

Turkey’s Erdogan assume new powers critics say he could use to punish political foes

Turkey’s Erdogan assume new powers critics say he could use to punish political foes

Special to WorldTribune.com ANKARA — Turkey has amended its defense tenders that would allow the government of Prime Minister Recep Erdogan to favor state-owned companies over their private counterparts. The Cabinet has approved regulations that change military procurement tenders issued by the Defense Ministry. Under the revision, disclosed in December 2013, the ministry could decide […]

Turkey might opt for ‘indigenous’ missile defense system in quiet, dodgy deal with China

Turkey might opt for ‘indigenous’ missile defense system in quiet, dodgy deal with China

Special to WorldTribune.com ANKARA — Turkey, which is under intense pressure from NATO over its procurement of  a China’s ballistic missile defense battery, might copy it and claim it as an indigenous system. Western diplomats said NATO has assessed that Ankara could indefinitely delay signing an agreement for China’s HQ-9 BMD system. Instead, the government […]

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