Latest Ankara News
Turkish president dampens hopes for restarting talks on Cyprus' 50-year ethnic split
NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — Turkey's president on Saturday put a damper on hopes for a quick resumption of talks to heal a half-century of ethnic division on Cyprus, reaffirming his support for a two-state deal that Greek Cypriots dismiss as a non-starter. President Recep Tayyip...
Turkey holds a tense debate on a bill to control stray dogs. It's raising fears of a mass culling
ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — A Turkish parliamentary commission began a tense debate Wednesday on a bill to manage the country's large stray dog population that animal advocates fear could result in the widespread killing of the animals. The legislation, submitted to parliament by...
Turkey proposes bill aimed at managing large stray dog population. Critics say it's inhumane
ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling party submitted to parliament Friday a controversial bill aimed at managing the country's large stray dog population. Critics are concerned that the proposed legislation will results in dogs being confined to cramped shelters...
Turkey's Erdogan renews push to restore ties with Syria that were severed over a decade ago
ISTANBUL (AP) — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reiterated his willingness to restore ties with Syria and extended an “invitation” Sunday to bring back relations to "how they were in the past." Over 12 years ago, diplomatic ties between Ankara and Damascus were cut off...
Turkey mediates between Somalia and Ethiopia to ease diplomatic tensions
ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkey on Monday mediated talks between Somalia and Ethiopia to ease diplomatic tensions between the east African neighbors, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said. Tensions between the two African countries have simmered since Ethiopia signed a memorandum of...
Turkey's president accuses opposition of stoking racism after anti-Syrian rioting erupts
ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused opposition parties of stoking xenophobia and racism on Monday, a day after residents in a neighborhood in central Turkey set Syrian-owned shops on fire. The rioting erupted in the Melikgazi region of central...
Turkey's president expresses willingness to restore diplomatic ties with Syria
ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Friday that there is no obstacle preventing Turkey and Syria from restoring diplomatic ties that were cut off at the start of the Syrian civil war more than a decade ago. His comments came just days after Syrian...
Turkey's Erdogan pardons elderly generals imprisoned over 1997 'postmodern coup'
ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday pardoned seven former top military officers who were sentenced to life terms in prison over the ouster of an Islamic-led government in 1997. The former generals, who are in their late 70s and 80s, were pardoned...
Turkey sentences pro-Kurdish politicians to lengthy prison terms over deadly 2014 riots
ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — A Turkish court on Thursday sentenced several pro-Kurdish politicians to between nine and 42 years in prison over deadly riots in 2014 by Kurds angered by what they perceived to be government inaction against Islamic State group militants who had besieged the Syrian border...
Greek and Turkish leaders seek to stress thawing relations but tensions remain under the surface
ISTANBUL (AP) — The leaders of Greece and Turkey met Monday for talks aimed at underlining their efforts to put aside decades-old disputes, but they also revealed deep divisions over the Israel-Hamas war. Speaking at a news conference in Ankara following the two-hour face-to-face...
