First Israeli ambassador to Turkey since 2010 arrives

Eitan Naeh arrived in the morning, the official, who did not wish to be named. Naeh is due to present his letter of credence to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the next few days.

 News Briefs

Israel's new ambassador to Turkey arrived in the capital Ankara on Thursday, an Israeli embassy official said, to serve as the first official envoy since a six-year spat put diplomatic relations on ice.

Naeh, who had been serving as deputy head of mission at the Israeli embassy in London, was chosen as ambassador earlier this month by a government committee.

A career diplomat, he previously worked at the embassy in Ankara from 1993 to 1997.

Naeh is the country's first envoy since Israeli commandos raided a Gaza-bound ship of activists in 2010.

After the raid which killed 10 Turkish activists, relations between the two countries plunged to an all-time low with both pulling their envoys out from the respective capitals.

At one point, Erdogan even accused the Israeli leadership of "keeping Hitler's spirit alive".

But the bitter rift came to an end in June after long-running secret talks in third countries with Israel offering $20 million in compensation, an apology over the raid and permission for Turkish aid to reach Gaza.

Last week firefighting planes from Turkey were sent to Israel after bushfires raged.

Thanking Ankara for its support and the warm welcome, Naeh told reporters at the airport: "We have a history of helping each other in times of need."

In a video shared by the embassy's official Facebook account, Naeh said: "I am very happy to be back in Turkey as ambassador. We have a lot of work to do... I am looking forward to starting the work here, officially."

The process to normalise relations was strongly supported by the United States, which had long wanted to see NATO ally Turkey resume its once-close relationship with Israel.

Turkey this month appointed Prime Minister Binali Yildirim's foreign affairs advisor Kemal Okem as its ambassador to Israel.

WB

Muslim unity can prevent 2nd Sykes-Picot

We should cooperate to end sectarian policies, and our unity works to spread stability in the region, says Numan Kurtulmus

News Briefs

Turkey’s deputy prime minister has warned of a “second Sykes-Picot” imperialist division of the Middle East, calling on the Islamic countries to join forces to prevent this.

In an interview published Tuesday in London-based Arabic-language daily Asharq al-Awsat, Numan Kurtulmus said, “The Islamic world should develop a clear understanding of the picture in the Middle East. A hundred years ago, the imperialist powers imposed the [1916] Sykes-Picot Agreement in the region that resulted in its division by borders, and now we are currently facing a project called the second Sykes-Picot.”

Kurtulmus urged “unity among the Islamic countries to confront their division along sectarian lines, which would tear them up.”

Pointing to Turkey’s cooperation with Saudi Arabia, he said, “We work to unite the Islamic world to prevent the division of its countries... Turkey does not want to see countries like Iraq, Syria, Libya, and others falling apart. We should cooperate to end sectarian policies, and our unity is the agenda to spread stability in the region.”

He added, “We see that Saudi Arabia is playing an effective role in this area. We now stand at a crossroads and a critical time: Either we surrender to the second Sykes-Picot or unite against sectarianism.”

AA

Senior Turkish cleric 'distressed' over mosque attacks

Head of Turkey’s Religious Affairs Directorate speaks out after recent incident at mosque in Sweden

News Briefs

Turkey’s senior Muslim cleric has described as “distressing” attacks on mosques in Europe.

Speaking on Sunday at a news conference in Ankara, Mehmet Gormez, head of Turkey’s Religious Affairs Directorate, said the final stage of interference in religious freedoms was the attacking mosques and holy places.

Gormez's comments follow an incident at a mosque in the Swedish capital, Stockholm, early Saturday. Swastikas and offensive slogans were daubed near the entrance of a mosque, and fireworks thrown during morning prayers.

He also accused politicians in such countries of ignoring attacks on places of worship.

Gormez said he was worried because of attacks on mosques in Europe and an increase in Islamophobia.

Describing Europe as a region which said it highlighted values such as human rights, freedoms and respect for the "other", Gormez continued:

"It is very distressing that Islamophobia has turned into Islamic hatred in some parts of society – ‘othering’, xenophobia and all kinds of racism have proliferated."

Gormez said in many countries the expression of that hatred reached the extent that pig heads were hung on Islamic places of worship and crooked crosses daubed on mosque doors.

Emphasizing that holy places of all religions were inviolable for Islam, Gormez said cooperation was needed to eliminate these incidents.

WB

Rescuers find Turkish miner's body at accident site

Eight miners remain trapped underground following incident at Madenkoy copper mine in Siirt province

News Briefs

Another body of a miner was discovered Thursday, seven days after a mine collapse in southeastern Turkey.

Search dogs attached to rescue units came across the remains of the missing mine worker while searching the area.

Teams are still working on recovering the body. Eight other mine workers remain trapped underground.

Eight bodies in total have been found at the Madenkoy copper mine in Sirvan, Siirt province so far.

Heavy rainfall is believed to have triggered a landslide that caused the mine collapse on Nov. 17.

The mine’s operating manager was remanded in custody on Saturday, accused of negligence relating to safety regulations.

Madenkoy mine is run by Park Elektrik, a member of the Ciner Group which has operated the facility since 2006.

Earlier this week an incident took place at a privately-owned mine in the Kilimli district of Zonguldak province, a region on Turkey’s Black Sea coast.

The body of a 34-year-old mine worker was recovered on Tuesday, 10 hours after the mine collapse in northern Turkey.

Other serious accidents have beset Turkey’s mining industry in the past.

In May 2014, 301 coal miners were killed in the Soma mine in western Turkey -- the country’s worst mining disaster.

This October, 18 miners died in a flood at a coal mine in Ermenek, central Turkey.

WB

Turkey condemns suicide attack in Afghanistan mosque

Foreign Ministry conveys condolences to relatives of the 27 people who lost their lives during worship 

 News Briefs

Turkey has "strongly" condemned Monday's suicide attack inside a Shia mosque in Afghanistan that left at least 27 people dead.

"We strongly condemn the outrageous terror attack targeting innocent civilians in the midst of worship, wish a speedy recovery to the wounded, and convey our condolences to the relatives of those who lost their lives, Afghanistan’s government, and the brotherly Afghan nation," said a Turkish Foreign Ministry statement Tuesday.

On Monday a suicide bomber detonated explosives inside the Baqar Ulom Mosque where Shia Muslim worshippers had gathered for a ritual mourning of the Prophet Muhammad's grandson Hussein.

At least 27 people died and more than 30 were wounded in the attack.

The statement reiterated Turkey’s solidarity with Afghanistan in the face of terrorism, adding, "We believe this attack will not accomplish its goal of sowing instability." 

WB

Presidential system for stability in Turkey, says PM

Binali Yildirim says constitutional change will defend Turkey's gains

News Desk

Constitutional change will result in trust and stability in Turkey, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said Saturday.

“If there is political stability and trust in a country, then anything can happen,” he said at a hospital opening ceremony in Istanbul. “We are saying ‘Let’s come and make this constitutional change. Let’s make trust and stability permanent.’”

The ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party has sought to introduce a presidential system to replace the current parliamentary model since President Recep Tayyip Erdogan became the first head of state elected by popular vote in August 2014.

In order to secure a referendum on the issue, it has reached an agreement with the opposition Nationalist Movement Party to give it the necessary 330 votes in parliament.

The AK Party has said a presidential system will avoid weak coalition governments and Yildirim said Turkey “cannot preserve its gains” without the change.

WB

Turkish prosecutor files new indictment in exam fraud

The suspects, alleged FETO terror group members, are suspected of obtaining test questions beforehand

 News Desk

Ankara prosecutors Thursday filed charges against 91 suspects for allegedly cheating on a 2010 civil service recruitment exam, known as KPSS.

In the Ankara Prosecutor's Office indictment sent to Ankara’s Second High Criminal Court, the suspects are charged with being members of FETO/PDY, falsifying documents, and harming public institutions and organizations.

If the court accepts the indictment, the number of cases filed over the 2010 KPSS civil service exam will rise to five, and the number of defendants in these cases will jump to 475.

Among the suspects are Muhammet Sait Gulen, a relative of Fetullah Gulen – the leader of the FETO terror organization – and Yalcin Baransu and Aygun Baransu, the brother and wife of Mehmet Baransu, respectively.

Mehmet Baransu was found guilty last year of plotting against suspects in the "Sledgehammer" military coup case, forming a criminal organization, and acquiring, disclosing, and destroying confidential state documents.

The indictment states that nearly 295,000 people took the July 2010 exam. There was telephone contact among 1,970 of the 3,227 candidates who got high scores, and 907 of them did not take the next exam, when the 2010 exam was canceled and replaced by a new one.

According to the indictment, 1,148 of the people who got high scores are also related to each other, while 896 of them are married. Moreover, 2,690 of the candidates worked for the same company or institution, while 1,136 of them gave identical contact addresses.

The indictment also states that 148 of the 350 people who got all 120 questions correct did not sit the repeated examination.

The prosecutor also claimed that questions from many of state exams were leaked and distributed, such as the as 2009-2011 KPSS, 2011 and 2012 judicial exams, the 2011-2013 foreign language exam, and the 2012 University Entrance Exam, as well as gendarme exams, military high school exams, and police academy exams.

The indictment stresses that early versions of the culture, skill, and educational sciences sections of the 2010 exam were obtained and distributed beforehand, according to gendarmerie crime units, Turkish Scientific and Technological Research Council (TUBITAK) reports, complaints, and statements of witnesses.

The 2010 KPSS was canceled and reheld, resulting in state damages of $9.11 million, the prosecutor said in the indictment.

The prosecutor opened the first case last December against 230 suspects. These cases still remain underway at Ankara’s Second Heavy Penal Court.

WB

Turkey can be key partner, says Pakistan's top diplomat

In exclusive interview, Pakistan foreign affairs chief says Turkey, Pakistan can work together on regional issues  

 News Desk

Shared policies and mutual challenges could make Turkey and Pakistan ideal partners to push for peace in Afghanistan and elsewhere in the region, Pakistan's foreign affairs chief Sartaj Aziz told AA in an exclusive interview. 

Ahead of an official visit by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan starting Wednesday, Aziz, who effectively serves as Pakistan's foreign minister, said the countries shared views on both regional and global issues, including the conflicts in Afghanistan and Syria. 

"Turkey has carried the huge burden of Syrian refugees, similarly Pakistan is hosting 3 million Afghan refugees. We will continue to hold discussions and cooperate to handle these issues," Aziz said, pointing out that Turkey had long tried to support a peace process in Afghanistan by with Heart of Asia–Istanbul process, which gathers the heads of Asian governments. 

Aziz is one of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's closest advisors and also served as foreign minister during Sharif's previous stint as prime minister in the late 1990s. He welcomed Erdogan's forthcoming visit, saying it would provide the countries another opportunity to discuss regional issues as well as strengthen their own ties in trade, business and defense, noting that a free trade agreement is close to completion. 

"We always attach great importance to our relations with Turkey. It is his first visit [to Pakistan] after the failed military coup therefore it has an added importance," Aziz said, adding that despite the coup attempt he believed "Turkey will emerge stronger in terms of its democratic credentials as well as continuity of the democratic order."

AA

Turkish deputy PM calls HDP detentions 'constitutional'

9 MPs of opposition Peoples’ Democratic Party were remanded last Friday in terror probe for failing to answer summons

 News Desk

The recent detentions of nine lawmakers of the opposition Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) are "constitutional," Turkish deputy prime minister Numan Kurtulmus said Monday.

A total of nine HDP lawmakers, including co-chairs Selahattin Demirtas and Figen Yuksekdag, were remanded in custody last Friday for failing to answer public prosecutors’ summons linked to an ongoing counter-extremism probe. Diyarbakir Deputies Ziya Pir and Imam Tascier, and Ankara Deputy Sirri Sureyya Onder were released under judicial control.

"This is in line with the Constitution. [...] The process to arrest, and remand [the HDP lawmakers] and the upcoming process is totally and 100% legal," Numan Kurtulmus said at a news conference following the Cabinet meeting.

The deputy PM went on to say that another HDP deputy, Nihat Akdogan, who was under arrest warrant, was captured in southeastern Hakkari province, bringing the number of wanted lawmakers down to two.

Van Deputy Tugba Hezer Ozturk and Sirnak Deputy Faysal Sariyildiz are the remaining HDP deputies for whom arrest orders have been issued.

Kurtulmus said the HDP continued its political activities "in the shadow of the extremist organization," referring to the PKK.

The arrested lawmakers face prosecution under anti-extremism laws after their parliamentary immunity was lifted earlier this year.

Lawmakers from other parties had also been summoned before public prosecutors but only HDP deputies refused to testify.

Among the charges HDP lawmakers face are alleged offenses of spreading extremist propaganda in relation to comments made in October 2014, after ISIL extremists entered the Syrian border town of Kobani, also known as Ayn Al-Arab. Demirtas and other HDP figures had urged residents to take to the streets. The ensuing week of violent demonstrations left dozens of people dead, including two police officers and saw hundreds of people injured.

The government has accused the HDP of having links to the PKK, which is listed as a extremist organization by Turkey, the EU and U.S.

- Clearing Manbij of PYD is Turkey's 'strategic priority'

Kurtulmus said it was among Turkey's strategic priorities to clear the Syrian city of Manbij of PYD, adding the importance of dislodging this extremist group was communicated to the U.S. once again during a meeting of the U.S. and Turkish military chiefs in Ankara Sunday.

The PKK and its Syrian offshoot the PYD are both listed as extremist groups by Turkey although the U.S. and the EU only view the PKK as a terror organization.

As for Turkey dispatching its tanks to southeastern Sirnak province's Silopi district near the border with Iraq last Tuesday, Kurtulmus said: "This step was taken within the framework of Turkey's possible measures."

The deputy PM also commented on the Raqqa operation, saying it would not contribute to regional peace if "non-Arab elements" took hold in the Syrian city.

He said "legitimacy" should be an important part of the operation. "Legitimacy can not be achieved with armed extremist organizations," he added.

Regarding the Raqqa operation, the Pentagon Spokesman Peter Cook said Oct. 31 that Ankara and Washington were still working out how to move forward with uprooting ISIL from its self-declared capital in Syria.

However, Ankara is opposed to the involvement of the PKK extrem group’s affiliates such as the PYD and its military wing, YPG, in the operation.

Kurtulmus said thanks to the Turkish military operation launched in northern Syria late August, 173 villages in northern Syria were "cleared" of ISIL.

Operation Euphrates Shield was launched to rid the north Syrian border area of extremists. The campaign has seen both ISIL and the PKK/PYD targeted by the Free Syrian Army and Turkish tanks, artillery and aircraft.

Turkish min. criticizes EU 'double standards' on PKK

Omer Celik speaks out over Belgian court that ruled PKK activities could not be called extremism

 News Desk

The decision by a Belgian court to refuse to recognize the PKK organization’s activities as terrorism was condemned by EU Affairs Minister Omer Celik on Monday.

Celik said the decision -- made by a lower court in Brussels on Thursday and the subject of an appeal the following day by federal prosecutors -- was an attack on human rights.

“The decision by a Belgian court to not recognize the PKK as a terror organization is a direct attack on the European Convention on Human Rights,” he told journalists in Ankara.

Speaking after a meeting with EU member state ambassadors, Celik also denounced double standards within EU institutions over the PKK, which is recognized as a terrorist organization by the EU, Turkey and U.S.

According to local media, the court had ruled that PKK activities could not be defined as terrorism because an “armed campaign cannot be considered as extremist acts”.

The judgment came in a case against 36 alleged PKK members when the court refused a prosecution request to send the suspects to be tried by a higher criminal court, the 7SUR7 news website reported.

The suspects are accused of kidnapping children from their families in Belgium and other “Western countries” and sending them for training to Greece and Iraq, the website said. They are also accused of forging documents and extortion.

Among those standing trial are Remzi Kartal and Zubeyir Aydar, said to be senior members of the PKK’s European arm. They were among PKK suspects arrested in March 2010 in raids on 18 addresses across Belgium.

Belgium has been criticized in the past for failing to act against the PKK. In August, supporters in Brussels were allowed to celebrate the anniversary of the terror group’s first attack and five months earlier followers set up tents outside EU buildings ahead of a Turkey-EU summit.

Co-leaders of HDP opposition party arrested

Both co-leaders of Turkey's HDP opposition party formally arrested after being detained

News Desk

Lawmakers from the opposition Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) were detained early Friday for failing to answer a counter-terrorism investigation summons, the Interior Ministry said.

Party co-leaders Figen Yuksekdag and Selahattin Demirtas and parliamentary group leader Idris Baluken were among 12 deputies seized by police after prosecutors in Turkey’s east and southeast approved the arrests, the ministry said in a statement.

The detentions were carried out across Diyarbakir, Hakkari, Van, Sirnak and Bingol provinces.

Yuksekdag and Demirtas, who vowed in June not to testify, as well as lawmaker Sirri Sureyya Onder were referred to a court in Diyarbakir for a judge to assess the prosecution case, a security official said on condition of anonymity.

Baluken was taken to court in Bingol. He was remanded into custody.

HDP's Diyarbakir lawmaker Nursel Aydogan and Sirnak lawmaker Leyla Birlik, who were taken to court in Sirnak, were also remanded into custody.

A further HDP lawmaker, Imam Tascier, was released under judicial control on Friday afternoon.

Prosecutors have demanded all suspects be remanded in custody pending trial, the official added.

At a press conference following a parliamentary group meeting in Ankara, HDP spokesman Ayhan Bilgen criticized the arrests, saying they were "not legal" but "political".

The lawmakers face prosecution under anti-terrorism laws after their parliamentary immunity was lifted earlier this year.

Lawmakers from other parties also face a range of investigations but only HDP deputies have refused to testify before prosecutors.

Turkey-Syria border wall to be 'completed' by mid-2017

Almost 270 kilometers (167 miles) of the wall completed so far, defense minister says

 News Desk

Construction of a concrete wall along the Turkish-Syrian border will be completed in the first half of 2017, Turkey's Defense Minister Fikri Isik said Wednesday.

Speaking during a visit of the border units in the southern province of Hatay, Isik said that almost 270 kilometers (167 miles) of the wall had been completed so far.

The minister said the construction of 200 kilometers (124 miles) of the remaining 520 kilometers (323 miles) had started.

"85 kilometers (52 miles) of the border is [part of Euphrates and Tigris] rivers for which we will take different measures," he said.

Turkey shares a 900-kilometer (559 miles) border with Syria, which has been embroiled in a civil war since 2011.

The Turkish Armed Forces are boosting security on the Turkish side by putting up concrete walls to stop illegal crossings and, on the Syrian side with coalition air forces, through Operation Euphrates Shield.

Turkish Armed Forces units are erecting the modular walls along the Turkish-Syrian borderline between Suruc district of Sanliurfa and Karkamis district of Gaziantep.

Syria has been locked in a vicious civil war since early 2011 when the regime of Bashar al-Assad cracked down on pro-democracy protests.

'170,000 Syrian babies' born in Turkey

Turkey has so far spent over $12B on refugees, according to the country’s aid agency AFAD 

News Desk

At least 170,000 Syrian babies have been born in Turkey since refugees started coming into the country from Syria, a Turkish aid agency said Wednesday.

Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) said it also provided special meal options to pregnant or breastfeeding refugee females at maternity and child healthcare facilities across the country.

Turkey is hosting the largest number of Syrian refugees in the world, around 3 million and has so far spent more than $12 billion on the refugees. Help from the international community has so far amounted to around $512 million, the AFAD said.

The AFAD also sent around 1.63 billion Turkish liras ($520 million) worth of humanitarian aid to Syria since the war began, the agency said.

At least 82,000 Syrian children were admitted to schools at resettlement centers, it said. Also, cooperation between Turkey’s Education Ministry and the AFAD ensured that 310,000 children of kindergarten and high school ages were taken off the streets and admitted to schools, it added.

Also, at least 115,000 Syrian adults gained employable skills after going through various certificate programs organized at AFAD centers.

The AFAD also said several women also took part in mukhtar (local head) elections and participated in the management of refugee camps.

The AFAD staff also raised awareness among refugees about early marriages and polygamy.

According to the authority, at least 400,000 people, including civilians lost their lives in Syria since the conflict began.

At least 13.5 million people in the 20 million-strong country are in need of humanitarian aid. While 6.1 million people have displaced, around 4.8 million fled to neighboring countries.

Turkey’s AFAD has 26 settlement centers across Turkey and offers help to physical, social and psychological needs of refugees.

According to the UN’s Refugee Agency, Turkey hosts the largest population of refugees in the world. Also, UNICEF said the country was hosting the largest number of child refugees in the world. 

Turkey's 3rd quarter tourism revenue totals $8.28bn

Revenue falls by nearly a third from same period in 2015, says Turkish Statistical Institute

News Desk

Turkish revenue from tourism fell sharply to $8.28 billion in the third quarter of the year, official figures showed on Monday. 

Revenue fell 32.7 percent from the same period in the previous year, according to the Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat).

Turkey welcomed nearly 12.1 million foreign visitors in the third quarter of this year, a decline of 5.3 million visitors from the same quarter in 2015.

The country’s total revenue from tourism was over $17.3 billion from January to September, $7.6 billion less compared to the same period last year. 

Income from tourism is a valuable source of foreign currency for the country, constituting nearly 4 percent of national income last year with $31.5 billion.

TurkStat's report also showed that over 2.6 million of the visitors were Turkish citizens residing abroad.

"While 71.6 percent of this income [excluding GSM roaming and marina service expenditures] was obtained from foreign visitors, 28.4 percent was obtained from citizens residing abroad,” TurkStat said.

According to TurkStat, the number of Turkish citizens traveling abroad in the quarter fell by 13.1 percent over the last year and reached over 2.2 million.

Their average expenditure was $506 per capita for the quarter.

Nearly 41.6 million tourists came to Turkey last year. The country welcomed 41.4 million tourists in 2014. Just over half of the foreign visitors came from Europe, according to TurkStat.

195 dismissed from Turkish Armed Forces amid FETO probe

Earlier on Friday, 265 were also suspended in gendarmerie, Turkish Coast Guard for suspected FETO links

News Desk

A total of 195 people belonging to the Turkish Armed Forces were dismissed from their duties for alleged links to the Fetullah Terrorist Organizaton (FETO), the Defense Ministry announced Friday on its official Twitter account.

Earlier on Friday, the Interior Ministry said 265 people had been suspended from the gendarmerie and the Turkish Coast Guard also for suspected links to FETO.

The Interior Ministry said the suspensions included 153 people in the gendarmerie and 112 others in the Turkish Coast Guard.

Led by U.S.-based Fetullah Gulen, FETO is accused of orchestrating Turkey’s July 15 coup plot as well as being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police and judiciary.

The July 15 defeated coup left 241 people killed and some 2,200 injured. 

AA

Turkish Deputy PM speaks out over arrest of city mayor

'No elected municipality board can have the right to support extremist groups,' says Numan Kurtulmus

News Desk

Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus said Thursday "no municipality has the right to support extremist groups".

Giving a speech during a ceremony to mark Ataturk University's new academic year in Turkey's eastern province of Erzurum, Kurtulmus said Diyarbakir mayor Gultan Kisanak was arrested because of allegations the southeastern city’s municipal resources were being transferred to the PKK.

"No elected municipality board can have the right to support extremist groups," said Kurtulmus.

Gulten Kisanak, a member of the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP), was taken into custody by officers from the Diyarbakir Security Directorate late on Tuesday.

Kisanak was arrested at the city’s airport as part of an inquiry into PKK extremism.

Firat Anli, another local elected official, was also arrested at his home as part of the same investigation. Both were taken to the city’s Security Directorate.

The Chief Prosecutor's Office in Diyarbakir said in a statement early Wednesday the mayor was arrested on charges of “being a member of an armed extremist group”.

"It has been understood that Gultan Kisanak called for autonomy and made remarks that are pro-extremist organization during Nevruz activities which were organized at the call of the PKK extremist group," the statement read.

"Upon evidence which shows Kisanak directed registered official vehicles to the funerals of extremist members, took part in unlawful meetings and demonstrations and made pro-PKK remarks, Kisanak has been arrested," it added.

5 PKK extremists 'neutralized' in SE Turkey

Security forces also seize RPGs, rifles, grenades, ammunition belonging to extremist group

News Desk

Five PKK extremists have been "neutralized" in Turkey's southeastern Hakkari province, the military said Thursday.

In a statement, the Turkish General Staff said that the extremists "neutralized" Wednesday in Cukurca district had been preparing to carry out a extremist attack on the security forces.

Meanwhile, another PKK extremist was captured in eastern Bingol province Wednesday, along with his AK-47 Kalashnikov rifle and two grenades, the statement said.

Security forces also seized rocket-propelled grenade launchers, rifles, grenades, and ammunition belonging to the extremist group in four shelters in Hakkari, Bingol, and southern Antalya province, it added.

Separately, an air raid in Lice, southeastern Diyarbakir province destroyed several weapon emplacements and shelters belonging to the extremist group.

The PKK -- listed as a extremist organization by Turkey, the U.S., and EU -- resumed its decades-old armed campaign in July last year.

Since then, PKK extremist attacks martyred more than 700 security personnel and also claimed the lives of many civilians, including women and children, while nearly 8,000 PKK extremists were killed in army operations.

Global investors can trust in Turkey: PM Yildirim

Binali Yildirım touts Turkey's strong, stable political administration, saying it will offer incentives for investment

News Desk

Global investors who have contributed to the Turkish economy should have no doubts about trusting in it, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said Thursday, touting the strong political power and stability of the nation’s administration.

Speaking to the Ninth Investment Advisory Council meeting in Istanbul, Yildirim said there is no such thing as a "foreign” investor in Turkey, but only entrepreneurs.

"We share a common fate. You have contributed to this country for many years. You know that we can’t look on you as a foreigner. The concept of ‘foreigner’ doesn’t apply to investing in Turkey. Anyone who invests in Turkey is an entrepreneur of this country."

Yildirim said the Turkish government will provide all opportunities without any discrimination to anyone who invests in Turkey.

Yildirim stressed that trust is vital for both local and international investors, who should have no doubt about trusting Turkey.

"Trust, as you all know, is the biggest expectation for an investor. The continuation of confidence means the realization of new projects and new plans for investors in the long term. You should have no doubt about trusting in Turkey."

Turkey's Central Bank raises 2017 inflation forecast

Volatility of Turkish lira and recovering oil prices are key issues for revision of inflation forecast

News Desk

Turkey's Central Bank raised its inflation forecast for next year, citing an increasing pressure of depreciation of the Turkish lira on Thursday.

In a press conference held to announce the fourth inflation report of the bank, Central Bank Governor Murat Cetinkaya said the bank had revised upwards its inflation forecast for 2017, which was 6 percent, by 0.5 percentage points due to the recent volatility of the Turkish lira and rising oil prices.

"We expect inflation to be 7.5 percent by the end of 2016. And after retreating to 6.5 percent in 2017, we estimate that it will stabilize at 5 percent in 2018,” Cetinkaya said in the conference.

Cetinkaya explained that they did not change the forecast for 2016 since upside risks were expected to offset downwards risks.

“In this context, with a 70 percent probability, we forecast inflation to average between 7 and 8 percent (average 7.5 percent) in 2016. By the end of 2017, we expect it to be between 5 and 8 percent (average 6.5 percent),” he added.

Cetinkaya said that Turkish lira, which recently suffered from sharp volatility and oil prices, was starting to recover.

“We raised headline consumer price inflation for 2017 year-end by 0.5 percentage points, compared to previous report, due to the upside impact of increasing import costs despite the downside effects of a decline in food inflation and total demand,” Cetinkaya said.

New police chiefs assigned to Turkey's 61 provinces

24 were transferred from one province to another

 News Desk

New police chiefs have been assigned to 61 Turkish provinces, including Izmir, Adana and Konya, according to a decree published Wednesday on the Official Gazette.

Twenty-four chiefs were transferred from one province to another while 37 have been newly appointed.

Servet Yilmaz and Adem Cakici, who were police chiefs of Kahramanmaras and Rize respectively, were named deputies to the head of the Turkish national police.