The Türkiye government’s tourism promotion campaign—TurkAegean— has stoked anger in Greece which has accused its NATO ally of culture appropriation.

At the root of this promotional campaign is the word ‘TurkAegean’ used by Türkiye. It is related to the territorial sovereignty over a group of islands spread on the Aegean Sea, which has been a contentious issue between Athens and Ankara.

The region sees a heavy influx of tourists during the summer season from around Europe. Aegean’s sandy beaches and azure waters have been the main tourist pullers.

With its western shores straddling the Aegean, Turkey wants the region not to be associated exclusively with Greece. Last December, it even lodged a request with the EU’s intellectual property office to trademark the term TurkAegean.

The application was made public after it got approval from the intellectual property office, triggering a backlash from top Greek politicians.

&nbsp;“Some people … quite simply, did not do their job well,” Greek prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said.

Greece’s European Commission Vice President Margaritis Schinas sent a strongly worded letter&nbsp;to Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton, demanding a review of the decision, according to Greek media reports on Thursday.

But Turkey has always viewed the Aegean region as part of its territory, even as it fought with Greece over claims to maritime boundaries and their continental shelves.

In November, Turkish Deputy Tourism Minister Nadir Alpaslan&nbsp;in an interview said that Greece “has made the world perceive the Aegean as its own region”, according to Politico.

“We will do this even more strongly next year and show that the Aegean is not a region of Greece, but also a region of Turkey, a tourism brand.”

However, the controversy surrounding claims to the Aegean Sea is linked to security concerns.

Ankara has accused Athens of deliberately militarising islands close to the Turkish coast in contravention of international treaties, reports The Guardian.

In a move that sparked further concerns among EU diplomats stationed in Athens, Turkey’s foreign minister, Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, warned last month that Turkey would challenge the status of Greece’s eastern isles if troops were not withdrawn.

Athens argues it has a right to defend itself on its own soil, noting repeated air incursions by Turkish fighter jets and Ankara’s longstanding threat of war in the event of territorial waters being extended.

Erdoğan has repeatedly invoked the Greek-Turkish war of 1919-22, which ended in military defeat for Athens, saying that, 100 years on, Greece should not be bristling for a fight that it would once again “regret”.

Greek politicians said that Ankara’s TurkAegean campaign must be seen in the context of the strategy the Turkish president was pursuing in the lead-up to elections in 2023.

(With inputs from agencies)

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The Türkiye government’s tourism promotion campaign—TurkAegean— has stoked anger in Greece which has accused its NATO ally of culture appropriation. At the root of this promotional campaign is the word ‘TurkAegean’ used by Türkiye.

The Türkiye government’s tourism promotion campaign—TurkAegean— has stoked anger in Greece which has accused its NATO ally of culture appropriation. At the root of this promotional campaign is the word ‘TurkAegean’ used by Türkiye. It is related to the territorial sovereignty over a group of islands spread on the Aegean Sea, which has been a contentious issue between Athens and Ankara. The region sees a heavy influx of tourists during the summer season from around Europe. Aegean’s sandy beaches and azure waters have been the main tourist pullers. With its western shores straddling the Aegean, Turkey wants the region not to be associated exclusively with Greece. Last December, it even lodged a request with the EU’s intellectual property office to trademark the term TurkAegean. The application was made public after it got approval from the intellectual property office, triggering a backlash from top Greek politicians. “Some people … quite simply, did not do their job well,” Greek prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said. Greece’s European Commission Vice President Margaritis Schinas sent a strongly worded letter to Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton, demanding a review of the decision, according to Greek media reports on Thursday. But Turkey has always viewed the Aegean region as part of its territory, even as it fought with Greece over claims to maritime boundaries and their continental shelves. In November, Turkish Deputy Tourism Minister Nadir Alpaslan in an interview said that Greece “has made the world perceive the Aegean as its own region”, according to Politico. “We will do this even more strongly next year and show that the Aegean is not a region of Greece, but also a region of Turkey, a tourism brand.” However, the controversy surrounding claims to the Aegean Sea is linked to security concerns. Ankara has accused Athens of deliberately militarising islands close to the Turkish coast in contravention of international treaties, reports The Guardian. In a move that sparked further concerns among EU diplomats stationed in Athens, Turkey’s foreign minister, Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, warned last month that Turkey would challenge the status of Greece’s eastern isles if troops were not withdrawn. Athens argues it has a right to defend itself on its own soil, noting repeated air incursions by Turkish fighter jets and Ankara’s longstanding threat of war in the event of territorial waters being extended. Erdoğan has repeatedly invoked the Greek-Turkish war of 1919-22, which ended in military defeat for Athens, saying that, 100 years on, Greece should not be bristling for a fight that it would once again “regret”. Greek politicians said that Ankara’s TurkAegean campaign must be seen in the context of the strategy the Turkish president was pursuing in the lead-up to elections in 2023. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Türkiye’s ‘TurkAegean’ tourism campaign sparks backlash in Greece

Iranian foreign minister Hossein Amirabdollahian stated on Saturday (July 2) during a visit to Damascus that Iran is working toward a political solution to prevent Turkey from invading northern Syria.

Iran plans to offer a political solution to ease Syria-Turkey tension

The homesick Afghan shepherd prepares his baaing flock for a good shear, in the Turkish mountains so high the silver clouds almost touch the top of his head. The pebbly valley around him was once full of Kurds, who staged a violently suppressed rebellion in Tunceli in the early years of the modern Turkish state.

But the Kurds in the eastern Mercan Valley have been gradually replaced by Afghans, who fled here by foot and truck across Iran from the poverty and bloodshed back home. Now, with two decades of conflict behind them, some are thinking of going back, no matter the resurgent Taliban's hardline rule, as reported by AFP.

Hafiz Hasimi Meymene, a 20-year-old with a fiancee impatiently waiting for him in Afghanistan said, "Nobody would leave their country unless they had to."

"We come here, make money through shepherding, and send it to our families," he adds.

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VIDEO: Driven from their country by war, Afghan shepherds are eking out a living high in the mountains of Turkey, sending money home to the families they dream of returning to.<a href="https://t.co/J9eHZK2Hd6">https://t.co/J9eHZK2Hd6</a> <a href="https://t.co/rY1V8VNAhv">pic.twitter.com/rY1V8VNAhv</a>
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&nbsp;

A handful of nylon tents are tied down to the hard ground around him, the Afghan families' new homes. A few men crouch in a shed, milking their sheep and goats. Their friend ushers the flock into a pen with a whack of a slender stick.

As reported by AFP, Meymene said, "Next year, I will return to Afghanistan. The war is over."

"When the (Afghan) state was fighting the Taliban, the economy was hit hard. But now we are planning to return," he adds.

Also Read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/in-pics-protest-photos-that-will-leave-you-speechless-493911">&nbsp;In Pics: Protest photos that will leave you speechless</a>

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan estimates that 300,000 Afghans now live in Turkey, which also hosts 3.7 million people from war-ravaged Syria.

Tunceli native Mustafa Acun says the locals have grown used to Afghans taking care of their herds. The 67-year-old works alongside them, making cheese and yoghurt from sheep's milk.

"I mean, our children either cannot or do not want to do this job," he says looking up from his stool, tending to some steaming pots over an open flame. It is surprisingly dangerous work.

(with inputs from agencies)

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The homesick Afghan shepherd prepares his baaing flock for a good shear, in the Turkish mountains so high the silver clouds almost touch the top of his head. The pebbly valley around him was once full of Kurds, who staged a violently suppressed rebellion in Tunceli in the early years of the modern Turkish state.

The homesick Afghan shepherd prepares his baaing flock for a good shear, in the Turkish mountains so high the silver clouds almost touch the top of his head. The pebbly valley around him was once full of Kurds, who staged a violently suppressed rebellion in Tunceli in the early years of the modern Turkish state. But the Kurds in the eastern Mercan Valley have been gradually replaced by Afghans, who fled here by foot and truck across Iran from the poverty and bloodshed back home. Now, with two decades of conflict behind them, some are thinking of going back, no matter the resurgent Taliban's hardline rule, as reported by AFP. Hafiz Hasimi Meymene, a 20-year-old with a fiancee impatiently waiting for him in Afghanistan said, "Nobody would leave their country unless they had to." "We come here, make money through shepherding, and send it to our families," he adds. VIDEO: Driven from their country by war, Afghan shepherds are eking out a living high in the mountains of Turkey, sending money home to the families they dream of returning to.https://t.co/J9eHZK2Hd6 pic.twitter.com/rY1V8VNAhv — AFP News Agency (@AFP) July 2, 2022 × A handful of nylon tents are tied down to the hard ground around him, the Afghan families' new homes. A few men crouch in a shed, milking their sheep and goats. Their friend ushers the flock into a pen with a whack of a slender stick. As reported by AFP, Meymene said, "Next year, I will return to Afghanistan. The war is over." "When the (Afghan) state was fighting the Taliban, the economy was hit hard. But now we are planning to return," he adds. Also Read: In Pics: Protest photos that will leave you speechless President Recep Tayyip Erdogan estimates that 300,000 Afghans now live in Turkey, which also hosts 3.7 million people from war-ravaged Syria. Tunceli native Mustafa Acun says the locals have grown used to Afghans taking care of their herds. The 67-year-old works alongside them, making cheese and yoghurt from sheep's milk. "I mean, our children either cannot or do not want to do this job," he says looking up from his stool, tending to some steaming pots over an open flame. It is surprisingly dangerous work. (with inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Watch| Afghan refugee shepherds desperate to return home, even to resurgent Taliban's hardline rule

Turkish President Erdogan has issued a pretty blunt warning to Sweden and Finland that he could actually still block their bid to join the NATO military alliance if they fail to implement the new deal with Ankara that has been signed in the recently concluded NATO summit.

'Must meet the demand or we'll block their NATO bids,' Erdogan's stern warning to Sweden & Finland

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday that Türkiye can still block Finland and Sweden from becoming NATO members if the two countries fail to “meet his expectations”. At the end of the NATO Summit in Madrid, Erdogan made it clear that the 10-article agreement with both the countries was a victory for his country and any change in the terms can result in Türkiye once again taking away their support. The Turkish President added that the best part of the agreements was the extradition of terror suspects with links to Kurdish groups, according to Associated Press.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/scotus-strikes-again-limits-us-government-powers-to-curb-greenhouse-emissions-493343" hreflang="en">SCOTUS strikes again, limits US government powers to curb greenhouse emissions</a>

The Turkish parliament still need to ratify the deal reached by the three countries and till then, the government still has the chance to go back on their words and block the NATO membership bid.

“This business will not work if we don’t pass this in our parliament. First, Sweden and Finland must fulfil their duties and those are already in the text ... But if they don’t fulfil these, then of course there is no way we would send it to our parliament,” Erdogan said according to AP.

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In the press conference, Erdogan told the journalists that Sweden will be extraditing 73 people who are suspected members of the Kurdistan Workers’ party (PKK) – a body listed as terrorists by both the European Union (EU) and the United States.

“Of course, what we understand is important from our meetings and talks,” Erdogan said according to the report. “Sweden promised to give us these 73 people with this text. They may or they may not, we will follow that through the text, and we will make our decision.”

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(With inputs from agencies)

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday that Türkiye can still block Finland and Sweden from becoming NATO members if the two countries fail to “meet his expectations”.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday that Türkiye can still block Finland and Sweden from becoming NATO members if the two countries fail to “meet his expectations”. At the end of the NATO Summit in Madrid, Erdogan made it clear that the 10-article agreement with both the countries was a victory for his country and any change in the terms can result in Türkiye once again taking away their support. The Turkish President added that the best part of the agreements was the extradition of terror suspects with links to Kurdish groups, according to Associated Press. Also read | SCOTUS strikes again, limits US government powers to curb greenhouse emissions The Turkish parliament still need to ratify the deal reached by the three countries and till then, the government still has the chance to go back on their words and block the NATO membership bid. “This business will not work if we don’t pass this in our parliament. First, Sweden and Finland must fulfil their duties and those are already in the text ... But if they don’t fulfil these, then of course there is no way we would send it to our parliament,” Erdogan said according to AP. Also read | Ketanji Brown Jackson sworn in, becomes first Black woman on US Supreme Court In the press conference, Erdogan told the journalists that Sweden will be extraditing 73 people who are suspected members of the Kurdistan Workers’ party (PKK) – a body listed as terrorists by both the European Union (EU) and the United States. “Of course, what we understand is important from our meetings and talks,” Erdogan said according to the report. “Sweden promised to give us these 73 people with this text. They may or they may not, we will follow that through the text, and we will make our decision.” WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. (With inputs from agencies)

Türkiye can still block Finland and Sweden’s NATO membership, says Erdogan

US President Joe Biden said the United States will increase its military force in Europe.&nbsp;The US president informed that over $700 billion has been provided to Ukraine since he took office even as 50 countries have pledged new commitments to the country battling Russian forces.The important Black Sea outpost of Snake Island has been evacuated, according to the Russian military. For both sides in the conflict, the small patch of land in the Black Sea next to the Ukrainian port city of Odesa has acquired symbolic significance.

Click on the links below to read more:

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-should-sell-f-16-fighter-planes-to-turkey-congress-can-approve-says-biden-493313">US should sell F-16 fighter planes to Turkey, Congress can approve, says Biden</a>
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US President Joe Biden said the United States will increase its military force in Europe.&nbsp;The US president informed that over $700 billion has been provided to Ukraine since he took office even as 50 countries have pledged new commitments to the country battling Russian forces.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-says-it-has-withdrawn-its-military-from-snake-island-in-the-black-sea-493215">Russia says it has withdrawn its military from Snake Island in the Black Sea</a>
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The important Black Sea outpost of Snake Island has been evacuated, according to the Russian military. For both sides in the conflict, the small patch of land in the Black Sea next to the Ukrainian port city of Odesa has acquired symbolic significance.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-is-not-an-enemy-but-remains-serious-challenge-nato-493266">China is not an enemy, but remains serious challenge: NATO</a>
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NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg on Wednesday (June 29) said that China was not an enemy of the alliance but it did represent a serious challenge.

"We now face an era of strategic competition. We see a deepening strategic partnership between Moscow and Beijing and China's growing assertiveness and its coercive policies have consequences for the security of (NATO) allies and partners," Stoltenberg said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/united-states-disburses-13-bn-of-total-75-bn-promised-aid-to-ukraine-493231">United States disburses $1.3 bn of total $7.5 bn promised aid to Ukraine</a>
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The transfer of $1.3 billion in economic aid to Ukraine as part of the initial $7.5 billion promised to Kyiv by the Biden administration in May has been done, the US Treasury Department announced on Wednesday, as reported by AFP. 
&nbsp; 
"With this delivery of economic assistance, we reaffirm our resolute commitment to the people of Ukraine as they defend themselves against Putin's war of aggression and work to sustain their economy," Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said in a statement.&nbsp;

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The increase in monkeypox cases across the United States prompted the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to announce Tuesday that it has activated its Emergency Operations Center (EOC).The CDC's establishment of the EOC enables the organisation to further boost operational support for the response in order to handle the outbreak's changing circumstances.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/prince-charles-not-to-accept-large-cash-donations-to-his-charities-report-493197">Suitcase row: Prince Charles to no longer accept large cash donations to his charities</a>
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UK's Prince Charles will no longer accept large donations to his charities in cash anymore, reported The Guardian citing sources. The Prince of Wales has drawn flak over claims that he received 3 million euros in cash from a billionaire Qatari Sheikh. There are claimed that the cash was stuffed in a small bag and a Fotnum &amp; Mason carrier.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/shirtless-western-leaders-would-be-disgusting-sight-putin-493162">Shirtless western leaders would be a 'disgusting sight': Putin</a>
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Russian President Vladimir Putin, perhaps in a devastating reply, has shot back at western leaders saying that these leaders, if shirtless, would make for a 'disgusting sight'. Putin's comments came after European and other western leaders appeared to poke fun at shirtless Putin who, in past, has been clicked riding horse and other 'macho' activities.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/expert-blame-north-korea-for-usd-100-million-cryptocurrency-theft-493207">Experts blame North Korea for USD 100 million cryptocurrency theft</a>
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North Korean hackers are suspected to be behind a cyberattack that resulted in theft of as much as USD 100 million in cryptocurrency from a US company last week. Three digital investigative firms have made the conclusion.

The cryptoassets were stolen on June 23 from Horizon Bridge, a service operated by the Harmony blockchain that allows assets to be transferred to other blockchains.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/eng-vs-ind-fit-again-james-anderson-returns-as-ben-stokes-co-announce-playing-xi-for-series-decider-493280">Eng vs Ind: Fit-again James Anderson returns as Ben Stokes &amp; Co. announce playing XI for series decider</a>
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After whitewashing the World Test champions New Zealand, Ben Stokes-led England are all set to lock horns with Team India in the rescheduled fifth and final match of the incomplete five-match series, which took place last year, on Friday (July 01) in Edgbaston, Birmingham.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-will-chris-evans-return-as-captain-america-actor-says-i’d-be-very-cautious-492890">Will Chris Evans return as Captain America? Actor says 'I’d be very cautious'</a>
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Ever since 'Avengers: Endgame' released and it became known that Chris Evans is hanging up the shield and the character of Steve Rogers, or the former Captain America, his fans have been clamouring for his return. Never mind that there is a new Cap in the form of Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie).

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

US President Joe Biden said the United States will increase its military force in Europe. The US president informed that over $700 billion has been provided to Ukraine since he took office even as 50 countries have pledged new commitments to the country battling Russian forces.

US President Joe Biden said the United States will increase its military force in Europe. The US president informed that over $700 billion has been provided to Ukraine since he took office even as 50 countries have pledged new commitments to the country battling Russian forces.The important Black Sea outpost of Snake Island has been evacuated, according to the Russian military. For both sides in the conflict, the small patch of land in the Black Sea next to the Ukrainian port city of Odesa has acquired symbolic significance. Click on the links below to read more: US should sell F-16 fighter planes to Turkey, Congress can approve, says Biden US President Joe Biden said the United States will increase its military force in Europe. The US president informed that over $700 billion has been provided to Ukraine since he took office even as 50 countries have pledged new commitments to the country battling Russian forces. Russia says it has withdrawn its military from Snake Island in the Black Sea The important Black Sea outpost of Snake Island has been evacuated, according to the Russian military. For both sides in the conflict, the small patch of land in the Black Sea next to the Ukrainian port city of Odesa has acquired symbolic significance. China is not an enemy, but remains serious challenge: NATO NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg on Wednesday (June 29) said that China was not an enemy of the alliance but it did represent a serious challenge. "We now face an era of strategic competition. We see a deepening strategic partnership between Moscow and Beijing and China's growing assertiveness and its coercive policies have consequences for the security of (NATO) allies and partners," Stoltenberg said. United States disburses $1.3 bn of total $7.5 bn promised aid to Ukraine The transfer of $1.3 billion in economic aid to Ukraine as part of the initial $7.5 billion promised to Kyiv by the Biden administration in May has been done, the US Treasury Department announced on Wednesday, as reported by AFP. "With this delivery of economic assistance, we reaffirm our resolute commitment to the people of Ukraine as they defend themselves against Putin's war of aggression and work to sustain their economy," Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said in a statement. Monkeypox in US: CDC activates emergency operations unit The increase in monkeypox cases across the United States prompted the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to announce Tuesday that it has activated its Emergency Operations Center (EOC).The CDC's establishment of the EOC enables the organisation to further boost operational support for the response in order to handle the outbreak's changing circumstances. Suitcase row: Prince Charles to no longer accept large cash donations to his charities UK's Prince Charles will no longer accept large donations to his charities in cash anymore, reported The Guardian citing sources. The Prince of Wales has drawn flak over claims that he received 3 million euros in cash from a billionaire Qatari Sheikh. There are claimed that the cash was stuffed in a small bag and a Fotnum & Mason carrier. Shirtless western leaders would be a 'disgusting sight': Putin Russian President Vladimir Putin, perhaps in a devastating reply, has shot back at western leaders saying that these leaders, if shirtless, would make for a 'disgusting sight'. Putin's comments came after European and other western leaders appeared to poke fun at shirtless Putin who, in past, has been clicked riding horse and other 'macho' activities. Experts blame North Korea for USD 100 million cryptocurrency theft North Korean hackers are suspected to be behind a cyberattack that resulted in theft of as much as USD 100 million in cryptocurrency from a US company last week. Three digital investigative firms have made the conclusion. The cryptoassets were stolen on June 23 from Horizon Bridge, a service operated by the Harmony blockchain that allows assets to be transferred to other blockchains. Eng vs Ind: Fit-again James Anderson returns as Ben Stokes & Co. announce playing XI for series decider After whitewashing the World Test champions New Zealand, Ben Stokes-led England are all set to lock horns with Team India in the rescheduled fifth and final match of the incomplete five-match series, which took place last year, on Friday (July 01) in Edgbaston, Birmingham. Will Chris Evans return as Captain America? Actor says 'I’d be very cautious' Ever since 'Avengers: Endgame' released and it became known that Chris Evans is hanging up the shield and the character of Steve Rogers, or the former Captain America, his fans have been clamouring for his return. Never mind that there is a new Cap in the form of Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie).

Top 10 world news: Biden on selling F-16, Russia withdraws military from snake island, and more

NATO leaders will urge Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan to lift his veto over Finland and Sweden's bid to join the military alliance when they meet for a three-day summit on Tuesday, as the West strives to send Russia and China a signal of resolve.

Taking place in the shadow of Russia's war in Ukraine, the Madrid gathering comes at a pivotal moment for the transatlantic bond after failures in Afghanistan and internal discord during the era of former U.S. President Donald Trump, who threatened to pull Washington out of the nuclear alliance.

Negotiations among an often-fractious organisation are still under way, diplomats said, but leaders also hope to agree to provide more military aid to Ukraine, increase joint defence spending, cement a new resolve to tackle China's military rise and put more troops on stand-by to defend the Baltics.

Spain, whose king will host a dinner for leaders, is also pushing for more NATO focus on the southern flank to address migration and militant groups in the Sahel region of Africa.

The leaders of Australia, New Zealand, Japan and South Korea are expected to attend part of the summit, part of a broader U.S. strategy for a more assertive Western presence in the Indo-Pacific region to counter China.

"We will do more to ensure we can defend every inch of allied territory, at all times and against any threat," NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said in a speech last week.

Although British and U.S. officials have advised against a Baltic request for permanent multinational forces in the region, the summit is likely to settle on a compromise of promising rapid reinforcements.

Germany has already said it will put more troops at the ready to defend Lithuania should Russia seek to seize NATO territory and Britain is expected to do the same for Estonia, while Latvia is looking to Canada to pledge more troops there.

TURKEY VETO

NATO - created in 1949 to counter the Soviet threat - is under no treaty obligation to defend Ukraine, as the former Soviet republic is not a NATO member.

But Russian President Vladimir Putin's Feb. 24 invasion has sparked a geopolitical shift as once neutral countries Finland and Sweden seek to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and Ukraine has formally become a candidate to join the European Union.

If accepted, Finland and Sweden's inclusion into NATO would bring about the expansion of the alliance that the Russian leader aimed to prevent.

"I think it sends an important message to Putin. And I think it would actually significantly strengthen the alliance," U.S. Senator Angus King said of Finland and Sweden, following a trip to Finland, Latvia and Turkey.

However, Turkey is also testing that unity, angered by what it says is Helsinki and Stockholm's support for Kurdish militants and arms embargoes on Ankara.

A Turkish government official involved in the talks between the three countries and NATO's Stoltenberg told Reuters it would be difficult to reach a deal at the summit, saying that Sweden and Finland must first address Turkish concerns.

"There were meetings, but unfortunately steps we expected are not being taken," the official said.

Sweden has set up a process for ongoing consultations, diplomats said. But two senior NATO diplomats said the dispute was less about technical benchmarks and more about politics.

Erdogan's stance has proved popular at home before a June 2023 presidential election as he seeks to challenge U.S. and European priorities. In recent weeks, he has threatened more military operations in northern Syria, stoked tensions with fellow NATO member Greece and declined to join Western sanctions on Russia over the Ukraine war.

"I think there's nearly zero chance that this issue will be resolved at the Madrid summit," said Soner Cagaptay, a Turkey analyst at the Washington Institute, a U.S. think-tank.

U.S. President Joe Biden could hold a meeting with Erdogan in the margins of the NATO summit to push for progress with Finland and Sweden, whose leaders will be in Madrid.

But Cagaptay added that Erdogan could try to use the situation to boost his popularity and call a possible snap election in November ahead of the official June 2023 vote.

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NATO leaders will urge Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan to lift his veto over Finland and Sweden's bid to join the military alliance when they meet for a three-day summit on Tuesday, as the West strives to send Russia and China a signal of resolve.

NATO leaders will urge Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan to lift his veto over Finland and Sweden's bid to join the military alliance when they meet for a three-day summit on Tuesday, as the West strives to send Russia and China a signal of resolve. Taking place in the shadow of Russia's war in Ukraine, the Madrid gathering comes at a pivotal moment for the transatlantic bond after failures in Afghanistan and internal discord during the era of former U.S. President Donald Trump, who threatened to pull Washington out of the nuclear alliance. Negotiations among an often-fractious organisation are still under way, diplomats said, but leaders also hope to agree to provide more military aid to Ukraine, increase joint defence spending, cement a new resolve to tackle China's military rise and put more troops on stand-by to defend the Baltics. Spain, whose king will host a dinner for leaders, is also pushing for more NATO focus on the southern flank to address migration and militant groups in the Sahel region of Africa. The leaders of Australia, New Zealand, Japan and South Korea are expected to attend part of the summit, part of a broader U.S. strategy for a more assertive Western presence in the Indo-Pacific region to counter China. "We will do more to ensure we can defend every inch of allied territory, at all times and against any threat," NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said in a speech last week. Although British and U.S. officials have advised against a Baltic request for permanent multinational forces in the region, the summit is likely to settle on a compromise of promising rapid reinforcements. Germany has already said it will put more troops at the ready to defend Lithuania should Russia seek to seize NATO territory and Britain is expected to do the same for Estonia, while Latvia is looking to Canada to pledge more troops there. TURKEY VETO NATO - created in 1949 to counter the Soviet threat - is under no treaty obligation to defend Ukraine, as the former Soviet republic is not a NATO member. But Russian President Vladimir Putin's Feb. 24 invasion has sparked a geopolitical shift as once neutral countries Finland and Sweden seek to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and Ukraine has formally become a candidate to join the European Union. If accepted, Finland and Sweden's inclusion into NATO would bring about the expansion of the alliance that the Russian leader aimed to prevent. "I think it sends an important message to Putin. And I think it would actually significantly strengthen the alliance," U.S. Senator Angus King said of Finland and Sweden, following a trip to Finland, Latvia and Turkey. However, Turkey is also testing that unity, angered by what it says is Helsinki and Stockholm's support for Kurdish militants and arms embargoes on Ankara. A Turkish government official involved in the talks between the three countries and NATO's Stoltenberg told Reuters it would be difficult to reach a deal at the summit, saying that Sweden and Finland must first address Turkish concerns. "There were meetings, but unfortunately steps we expected are not being taken," the official said. Sweden has set up a process for ongoing consultations, diplomats said. But two senior NATO diplomats said the dispute was less about technical benchmarks and more about politics. Erdogan's stance has proved popular at home before a June 2023 presidential election as he seeks to challenge U.S. and European priorities. In recent weeks, he has threatened more military operations in northern Syria, stoked tensions with fellow NATO member Greece and declined to join Western sanctions on Russia over the Ukraine war. "I think there's nearly zero chance that this issue will be resolved at the Madrid summit," said Soner Cagaptay, a Turkey analyst at the Washington Institute, a U.S. think-tank. U.S. President Joe Biden could hold a meeting with Erdogan in the margins of the NATO summit to push for progress with Finland and Sweden, whose leaders will be in Madrid. But Cagaptay added that Erdogan could try to use the situation to boost his popularity and call a possible snap election in November ahead of the official June 2023 vote. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

NATO to pledge aid to Baltics and Ukraine, urge Turkey to let in Nordics

NATO leaders will urge Turkish President Erdogan to lift his veto over Finland and Sweden's bid to join the military alliance when they meet for a three-day summit. The meeting will take place from the 28th to 30th June.

Turkiye blocking entry of Finland, Sweden in NATO

Turkiye police on Sunday detained more than 150 demonstrators in a Pride march in Istanbul, as reported by AFP. The governor's office had banned the march around Taksim Square in the heart of Istanbul but protesters gathered nearby under heavy police presence earlier than scheduled. &nbsp;

"All those detained solely for their participation in Pride must be released immediately and unconditionally," Milena Buyum of Amnesty International said.&nbsp;

Police detained protesters, loading them into buses. Kilic, who was also detained last year during the Pride march, was in police custody.&nbsp;

Hundreds of protesters carrying rainbow flags pressed ahead with the rally in defiance of the police.&nbsp;

"The future is queer," they chanted. "We are here. We are queer. We are not going anywhere."

Police prevented the press from filming the arrests, according to AFP journalists.&nbsp;

Although homosexuality has been legal throughout the period of the modern Turkish republic, LGBTQ individuals point to regular harassment and abuse.

Diren, a 22-year-old university student, condemned the hate crimes targeting LGBTQ people.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/g7-announced-600-billion-global-infrastructure-plan-to-rival-chinas-bri-492064">G7 announced $600 billion global infrastructure plan to rival China’s BRI</a>

"We are banned, prevented, discriminated and even killed at every second of our lives. Today, it's a very special day for us to defend our rights and to say that we do exist," Diren told AFP.&nbsp;

Istanbul Pride had taken place every year since 2003. The last march which went ahead without a ban was in 2014 and drew tens of thousands of participants in one of the biggest LGBTQ events in the majority Muslim region.

In 2020, streaming giant Netflix cancelled the production of a series in Turkiye featuring a gay character after failing to obtain government permission for the filming. The same year, French sports brand Decathlon faced boycott calls in Turkiye for posting messages of support for LGBTQ people.

(with inputs from agencies) 
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Turkiye police on Sunday detained more than 150 demonstrators in a Pride march in Istanbul, as reported by AFP. The governor's office had banned the march around Taksim Square in the heart of Istanbul but protesters gathered nearby under heavy police presence earlier than scheduled.

Turkiye police on Sunday detained more than 150 demonstrators in a Pride march in Istanbul, as reported by AFP. The governor's office had banned the march around Taksim Square in the heart of Istanbul but protesters gathered nearby under heavy police presence earlier than scheduled. "All those detained solely for their participation in Pride must be released immediately and unconditionally," Milena Buyum of Amnesty International said. Police detained protesters, loading them into buses. Kilic, who was also detained last year during the Pride march, was in police custody. Hundreds of protesters carrying rainbow flags pressed ahead with the rally in defiance of the police. "The future is queer," they chanted. "We are here. We are queer. We are not going anywhere." Police prevented the press from filming the arrests, according to AFP journalists. Although homosexuality has been legal throughout the period of the modern Turkish republic, LGBTQ individuals point to regular harassment and abuse. Diren, a 22-year-old university student, condemned the hate crimes targeting LGBTQ people. Also Read: G7 announced $600 billion global infrastructure plan to rival China’s BRI "We are banned, prevented, discriminated and even killed at every second of our lives. Today, it's a very special day for us to defend our rights and to say that we do exist," Diren told AFP. Istanbul Pride had taken place every year since 2003. The last march which went ahead without a ban was in 2014 and drew tens of thousands of participants in one of the biggest LGBTQ events in the majority Muslim region. In 2020, streaming giant Netflix cancelled the production of a series in Turkiye featuring a gay character after failing to obtain government permission for the filming. The same year, French sports brand Decathlon faced boycott calls in Turkiye for posting messages of support for LGBTQ people. (with inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Turkiye police detain pride march demonstrators in Istanbul

Afghan refugees who crossed borders to escape Taliban atrocities and sought shelter in Turkey were deported back to Afghanistan on Friday under stringent measures. &nbsp;A total of 136 undocumented Afghan migrants were sent back to Afghanistan on charter planes, Khama Press reported, citing local media.

Turkey's northwest city named Kocaeli received 272 illegal migrants from Afghanistan on Friday under unlawful means, of whom 136 were sent back to their country of origin right away, local media added.

According to the state-run Anadolu Agency, more than 37,000 undocumented refugees have been deported back to their home countries since the start of this year, a rise of 89 per cent from the previous year. However, International refugee law clearly states that it is unlawful to deport asylum applicants without first hearing and deciding their case.

Citing sources, Khama Press reported that more than 20,000 of those who were deported came from Afghanistan and were flown back to the war-ravaged country. Turkey is home to 4 million refugees, including 3.6 million Syrians, according to official statistics.

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Since the Taliban took over in mid-August last year, Afghanistan has not only seen a mass exodus but also the illegal crossings of Afghans into neighbouring countries like Iran via Nimroz province and Turkey. More than 653,000 Afghan refugees have returned or been deported to Afghanistan mainly from neighbouring countries since August 2021, according to official figures from the Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation.

Although the fighting in the country has ended, Afghanistan's situation has been deteriorating as serious human rights violations continue unabated. Earlier, UNHCR has asked the European Union to accept 42,500 Afghans over five years but the request was resisted by the countries.

(with inputs from agencies) 
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Afghan refugees who crossed borders to escape Taliban atrocities and sought shelter in Turkey were deported back to Afghanistan on Friday under stringent measures.

Afghan refugees who crossed borders to escape Taliban atrocities and sought shelter in Turkey were deported back to Afghanistan on Friday under stringent measures. A total of 136 undocumented Afghan migrants were sent back to Afghanistan on charter planes, Khama Press reported, citing local media. Turkey's northwest city named Kocaeli received 272 illegal migrants from Afghanistan on Friday under unlawful means, of whom 136 were sent back to their country of origin right away, local media added. According to the state-run Anadolu Agency, more than 37,000 undocumented refugees have been deported back to their home countries since the start of this year, a rise of 89 per cent from the previous year. However, International refugee law clearly states that it is unlawful to deport asylum applicants without first hearing and deciding their case. Citing sources, Khama Press reported that more than 20,000 of those who were deported came from Afghanistan and were flown back to the war-ravaged country. Turkey is home to 4 million refugees, including 3.6 million Syrians, according to official statistics. Also Read: French parliament voiced support for bill enshrining right to abortion in constitution Since the Taliban took over in mid-August last year, Afghanistan has not only seen a mass exodus but also the illegal crossings of Afghans into neighbouring countries like Iran via Nimroz province and Turkey. More than 653,000 Afghan refugees have returned or been deported to Afghanistan mainly from neighbouring countries since August 2021, according to official figures from the Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation. Although the fighting in the country has ended, Afghanistan's situation has been deteriorating as serious human rights violations continue unabated. Earlier, UNHCR has asked the European Union to accept 42,500 Afghans over five years but the request was resisted by the countries. (with inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Illegal Afghan migrants deported to Afghanistan by Turkey

In pics: Wildfire in southwest Turkey enters third day

Aiming to normalise ties, on Wednesday (June 22), Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman arrived in Türkiye for the first time in years. He met with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan to revive bilateral relations that were ruptured after the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.&nbsp;

After holding a private meeting and dinner with Erdogan, the Crown Prince marked a crucial rapprochement between the Sunni Muslim powers after a decade of hostile relations.&nbsp;

Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman and other delegates said that there is a need for Saudi Arabia and Turkey to move forward to further consolidate and develop bilateral relations.&nbsp;

The Saudi Press Agency reported that the Crown Prince thanked Erdogan upon his departure from Ankara. The Turkish President even arrived at the Ankara International Airport to see off the Crown Prince.&nbsp;

“As I leave your sisterly country, it gives me great pleasure to express to Your Excellency my deepest gratitude and appreciation for the warm reception and hospitality that was accorded to me and the accompanying delegation," Crown Prince said as quoted by media reports.&nbsp;

"This visit made it possible to discuss topics of common interest, which confirms the keenness of our two countries to move forward in consolidating and developing bilateral relations between them in various fields under the leadership of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and Your Excellency," he added.&nbsp;

A senior Turkish official told Reuters on condition of anonymity that the crucial visit is expected to bring "a full normalisation and a restoration of the pre-crisis period" and a "new era will begin."&nbsp;

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Aiming to normalise ties, on Wednesday (June 22), Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman arrived in Türkiye for the first time in years. He met with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan to revive bilateral relations that were ruptured after the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Aiming to normalise ties, on Wednesday (June 22), Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman arrived in Türkiye for the first time in years. He met with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan to revive bilateral relations that were ruptured after the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. After holding a private meeting and dinner with Erdogan, the Crown Prince marked a crucial rapprochement between the Sunni Muslim powers after a decade of hostile relations. Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman and other delegates said that there is a need for Saudi Arabia and Turkey to move forward to further consolidate and develop bilateral relations. The Saudi Press Agency reported that the Crown Prince thanked Erdogan upon his departure from Ankara. The Turkish President even arrived at the Ankara International Airport to see off the Crown Prince. “As I leave your sisterly country, it gives me great pleasure to express to Your Excellency my deepest gratitude and appreciation for the warm reception and hospitality that was accorded to me and the accompanying delegation," Crown Prince said as quoted by media reports. "This visit made it possible to discuss topics of common interest, which confirms the keenness of our two countries to move forward in consolidating and developing bilateral relations between them in various fields under the leadership of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and Your Excellency," he added. A senior Turkish official told Reuters on condition of anonymity that the crucial visit is expected to bring "a full normalisation and a restoration of the pre-crisis period" and a "new era will begin." WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

To normalise ties, Saudi Crown Prince and Tayyip Erdogan meet in Turkey

Around 800 Syrian are returning to Turkey weekly.

Large number of refugees return home: Turkey

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is scheduled to visit Turkey next week, his first visit since the murder of Jamal Khashoggi. Why has Erdogan abandoned his crusade against Riyadh? What is MBS hoping to achieve with this visit? Palki Sharma tells you.

Gravitas: Saudi crown prince MBS to visit turkey

Which are European Union candidate countries and what's their status now?

Devastating floods and heavy storms ravaged parts of Turkey. With more than 42 towns in North and central Turkey receiving bad weather warnings and around five people were reported dead over the weekend, however, now the struggle lies for residents to face the after effects of such a calamity.

Flash floods ravage parts of Turkey, around 5 deaths reported

Following concerns that Iranian agents are actively preparing assaults on Israelis in Istanbul, Israel's Foreign Minister, Yair Lapid, has urged citizens not to travel to Turkey unless it is "necessary" and to cancel any scheduled holidays there.

Israel urges nationals not to fly to Turkey post Iran attack

Security concerns raised by Turkey in its opposition to Finland's and Sweden's NATO membership applications are legitimate, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Sunday during a visit to Finland.

"These are legitimate concerns. This is about terrorism, it's about weapons exports" , Stoltenberg told a joint news conference with Finnish President Sauli Niinisto while visiting him at his summer residence in Naantali, Finland.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/double-standards-haunt-us-and-europe-in-nato-dispute-with-turkey-486083">Double standards haunt US and Europe in NATO dispute with Turkey</a>

Sweden and Finland applied to join the Western defence alliance last month, in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. But they have faced opposition from Turkey, which has accused them of supporting and harbouring Kurdish militants and other groups it deems terrorists.

Stoltenberg said Turkey was a key ally for the alliance due to its strategic location on the Black Sea between Europe and the Middle East, and cited the support it has provided to Ukraine since Russia sent troops into its neighbour on Feb. 24.

Watch |&nbsp;Baltops 2022: NATO allies take part in military drills in Baltic sea, Russia also holds drills

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Moscow calls its actions a "special military operation".

"We have to remember and understand that no NATO ally has suffered more terrorist attacks than Turkiye", Stoltenberg said, using the Turkish pronunciation of the country's name, as preferred by Turkey and its President Tayyip Erdogan.

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Stoltenberg and Niinisto said talks with Turkey would continue but gave no indication of progress in the negotiations.

"The summit in Madrid was never a deadline", Stoltenberg said, referring to a NATO meeting in Madrid at the end of June.

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Security concerns raised by Turkey in its opposition to Finland's and Sweden's NATO membership applications are legitimate, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Sunday during a visit to Finland.

Security concerns raised by Turkey in its opposition to Finland's and Sweden's NATO membership applications are legitimate, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Sunday during a visit to Finland. "These are legitimate concerns. This is about terrorism, it's about weapons exports" , Stoltenberg told a joint news conference with Finnish President Sauli Niinisto while visiting him at his summer residence in Naantali, Finland. Also read | Double standards haunt US and Europe in NATO dispute with Turkey Sweden and Finland applied to join the Western defence alliance last month, in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. But they have faced opposition from Turkey, which has accused them of supporting and harbouring Kurdish militants and other groups it deems terrorists. Stoltenberg said Turkey was a key ally for the alliance due to its strategic location on the Black Sea between Europe and the Middle East, and cited the support it has provided to Ukraine since Russia sent troops into its neighbour on Feb. 24. Watch | Baltops 2022: NATO allies take part in military drills in Baltic sea, Russia also holds drills Moscow calls its actions a "special military operation". "We have to remember and understand that no NATO ally has suffered more terrorist attacks than Turkiye", Stoltenberg said, using the Turkish pronunciation of the country's name, as preferred by Turkey and its President Tayyip Erdogan. Also read | Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida considers joining NATO summit in Spain: Report Stoltenberg and Niinisto said talks with Turkey would continue but gave no indication of progress in the negotiations. "The summit in Madrid was never a deadline", Stoltenberg said, referring to a NATO meeting in Madrid at the end of June. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

NATO chief Stoltenberg says Turkey's security concerns are legitimate

A state-of-the-art port in Istanbul with an underground terminal, a celebrity chef's restaurant and a shopping centre, welcomes yet another 5,000-passenger cruise ship, bringing more cash to Turkey's struggling tourism industry.

Hit hard by Covid, Turkey's tourism sector could get a shot in the arm from the revenue generated at Galataport, which opened in 2021&nbsp;a year later than planned due to the pandemic.

The port could also provide a boost to an economy that has been weighed down by double-digit inflation and a currency in free fall, though the project has drawn criticism over the destruction of historical monuments and the potential environmental impact.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/double-standards-haunt-us-and-europe-in-nato-dispute-with-turkey-486083">Double standards haunt US and Europe in NATO dispute with Turkey</a>

Figen Ayan, chief port officer at Galataport, said "ships began to arrive one after the other" after the facility opened in October.&nbsp;

"Galataport has become the face of tourism," she told AFP.

The 20-story Costa Venezia vessel from Italy was taking passengers from an 11-day voyage to the Aegean Sea when it docked in Galataport, its gangway connecting directly to the futuristic underground customs terminal.

The port is home to a shopping centre, a hotel, cultural venues and a restaurant owned by Turkish butcher Nusret Gokce, better known as Salt Bae, the social media star who sprinkles salt on steaks in front of celebrity customers.

"Galataport Istanbul is much more than a cruise port," Ayan said.

High-spending passengers

Around 30 cruise ships have so far anchored at Galataport and 200 more are expected by the end of the year, which amounts to 450,000 passengers.&nbsp;

The pandemic caused havoc in the global cruise ship industry as vessels were hit by outbreaks and vessels were banned in several countries.

"Now we can say that we have left the pandemic behind and that the cruise sector, which is an important segment of tourism, has revived and is on the move," Ayan said.

The target is 1.5 million cruise passengers and 25 million visitors annually.

"If a regular tourist spends $62 daily, a cruise passenger spends $400. He spends up to eight times more in one day," she said.&nbsp;

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Environmental cost

The project also opened up a 1.2-kilometre (three-quarter-mile) coastline that had been closed to public use for 200 years.

But critics, including some urban planners and architects, say the gentrification of the area destroyed old neighbourhoods, with the shopping centre replacing a historical post office building, and also posed a risk to the environment.

Cruises threaten marine life, discharging large quantities of sewage and other waste, said Muharrem Balci, associate professor of biology at Istanbul University.

"The environmental cost of cruises is seven times higher than the financial return they provide," Balci told AFP.

"The consumption level of each traveller is higher than in the host cities, therefore, cruise tourism has the potential to create stress (for the environment) for the regions they visit."

Large ships were banned from Venice last year after years of warnings that the giant floating hotels risked causing irreparable damage to the lagoon city.

Burak Caliskan,&nbsp;country manager for MSC Cruises, said no such danger awaited Istanbul.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russian-foreign-minister-visits-turkey-to-discuss-ukraine-grain-exports-486080">Russian foreign minister visits Turkey to discuss Ukraine grain exports</a>

"We don't think Istanbul will face a similar situation. We don't have a city structure like Venice," he told AFP.&nbsp;

Caliskan also said newly built ships addressed environmental concerns.&nbsp;

"To give a few examples, the exhaust gases from the ships are filtered. The paints used on the ships have been completely changed. Paints that will not harm the sea are used," he said.&nbsp;

"We even have efforts to reduce the sound of the ships' engine so that while our ships are navigating in the open seas, they do not cause any disturbance to the living things, especially the whales."

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A state-of-the-art port in Istanbul with an underground terminal, a celebrity chef's restaurant and a shopping centre, welcomes yet another 5,000-passenger cruise ship, bringing more cash to Turkey's struggling tourism industry.

A state-of-the-art port in Istanbul with an underground terminal, a celebrity chef's restaurant and a shopping centre, welcomes yet another 5,000-passenger cruise ship, bringing more cash to Turkey's struggling tourism industry. Hit hard by Covid, Turkey's tourism sector could get a shot in the arm from the revenue generated at Galataport, which opened in 2021 a year later than planned due to the pandemic. The port could also provide a boost to an economy that has been weighed down by double-digit inflation and a currency in free fall, though the project has drawn criticism over the destruction of historical monuments and the potential environmental impact. Also read | Double standards haunt US and Europe in NATO dispute with Turkey Figen Ayan, chief port officer at Galataport, said "ships began to arrive one after the other" after the facility opened in October. "Galataport has become the face of tourism," she told AFP. The 20-story Costa Venezia vessel from Italy was taking passengers from an 11-day voyage to the Aegean Sea when it docked in Galataport, its gangway connecting directly to the futuristic underground customs terminal. The port is home to a shopping centre, a hotel, cultural venues and a restaurant owned by Turkish butcher Nusret Gokce, better known as Salt Bae, the social media star who sprinkles salt on steaks in front of celebrity customers. "Galataport Istanbul is much more than a cruise port," Ayan said. High-spending passengers Around 30 cruise ships have so far anchored at Galataport and 200 more are expected by the end of the year, which amounts to 450,000 passengers. The pandemic caused havoc in the global cruise ship industry as vessels were hit by outbreaks and vessels were banned in several countries. "Now we can say that we have left the pandemic behind and that the cruise sector, which is an important segment of tourism, has revived and is on the move," Ayan said. The target is 1.5 million cruise passengers and 25 million visitors annually. "If a regular tourist spends $62 daily, a cruise passenger spends $400. He spends up to eight times more in one day," she said. Watch | After Russia-Syria air strike simulation drills, Turkey gears up for offensive Environmental cost The project also opened up a 1.2-kilometre (three-quarter-mile) coastline that had been closed to public use for 200 years. But critics, including some urban planners and architects, say the gentrification of the area destroyed old neighbourhoods, with the shopping centre replacing a historical post office building, and also posed a risk to the environment. Cruises threaten marine life, discharging large quantities of sewage and other waste, said Muharrem Balci, associate professor of biology at Istanbul University. "The environmental cost of cruises is seven times higher than the financial return they provide," Balci told AFP. "The consumption level of each traveller is higher than in the host cities, therefore, cruise tourism has the potential to create stress (for the environment) for the regions they visit." Large ships were banned from Venice last year after years of warnings that the giant floating hotels risked causing irreparable damage to the lagoon city. Burak Caliskan, country manager for MSC Cruises, said no such danger awaited Istanbul. Also read | Russian foreign minister visits Turkey to discuss Ukraine grain exports "We don't think Istanbul will face a similar situation. We don't have a city structure like Venice," he told AFP. Caliskan also said newly built ships addressed environmental concerns. "To give a few examples, the exhaust gases from the ships are filtered. The paints used on the ships have been completely changed. Paints that will not harm the sea are used," he said. "We even have efforts to reduce the sound of the ships' engine so that while our ships are navigating in the open seas, they do not cause any disturbance to the living things, especially the whales." WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Turkey bets on modern cruise hub to boost tourism

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan kicked off his re-election bid with a plan to invade Syria. Is Erdogan flexing his military muscles to hide his failing economic policies? What are his chances in 2023? Palki Sharma tells you.

Gravitas: Erdogan announces 2023 re-election bid

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has announced to contest 2023 polls. He has been President since 2014. Watch this report.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to contest 2023 polls

The Neolithic archaeological site Göbekli Tepe is located in Turkey's Southeastern Anatolia region. The site, which dates from between 9500 and 8000 BCE in the Pre-Pottery Neolithic, consists of several enormous circular constructions supported by gigantic stone pillars.

Gobekli Tepe: World's oldest human Civilisation

Turkey is planning to launch an offensive in Northern Syria, this at a time when Russian and Syrian air forces hold giant air strike simulation drills across the country.

After Russia-Syria air strike simulation drills, Turkey gears up for offensive

Turkish defense ministers warned Russian counterpart that Turkiye would respond to moves aimed at disrupting stability in Northern Syria. This came after Russia and Syrian air forces held joint air strike simulation drills across Syria.

Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar warns Sergei Shoigu of Russia

Nearly 20 million tonnes of grain trapped in Ukraine’s warehouses. Several ‘grain elevators’ are scattered in a country that is world’s fifth-biggest wheat exporter. Why is Ukraine unable to export grain? Russian sealed off Black sea ports in Ukraine. This has affected grain export as no ship can enter or leave Ukraine.

Ukraine’s food grain problem explained: How Kyiv can resume export

Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov met with his Turkish counterpart today for talks on the Ukrainian grains shipments which has been on hold due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Lavrov met Mevlut Cavusoglu in the Turkish capital in Ankara.

Russian foreign minister in Turkiye, Ukraine grain exports on agenda

US and European acquiescence in Turkey's long-standing refusal to honour Kurdish ethnic, cultural, and political rights has come home to roost with Turkish opposition to Finnish and Swedish NATO membership.

The opposition has sparked debates about Turkey's controversial place in the North Atlantic defense alliance.

Turkey’s detractors point to its problematic military intervention in Syria, relations with Russia, refusal to sanction Moscow, and alleged fuelling of tension in the eastern Mediterranean, calling the country’s NATO membership into question.

Its defenders note that Turkey, NATO’s second-largest standing military, is key to maintaining the alliance’s southern flank. Also, Turkey’s geography, population size, economy, military power, and cultural links to a Turkic world make it a critical link between Europe and Asia. In addition, Turkish drones have been vital in Ukraine's war with Russia, while Turkey has been a mediator in the conflict, albeit with limited success.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russian-foreign-minister-visits-turkey-to-discuss-ukraine-grain-exports-486080">Russian foreign minister visits Turkey to discuss Ukraine grain exports</a>

Kurdish rights hardly figure in the debates, and if they do, only as a prop for taking Turkey to task for its slide into authoritarianism.

An ethnic group spread across southeastern Turkey, northern Iraq, northern Syria, and western Iran, Kurds are seen at best as assets in the fight against the Islamic State and at worst a threat to Turkish security and territorial integrity. Turkey's estimated 16 million Kurds account for up to 20 per cent of the country's population.

Turkey, or Turkiye as it wants to be known going forward, has used the security argument to make its agreement to Swedish and Finnish NATO membership dependent on the two Nordic countries effectively accepting its definition of terrorism as including any national expression of Kurdish identity.

Turkey has demanded that Sweden and Finland extradite 33 people, some of whom are Swedish or Finnish nationals, because of their alleged support for the Kurdish Workers Party (PKK) or exiled preacher Fethullah Gulen, whom President Recep Tayyip Erdogan holds responsible for a failed military coup in 2016.

Turkey accuses the two Nordic countries of allowing the PKK to organize on their territory. Alongside the United States and the European Union, Turkey has designated the PKK as a terrorist organisation. The PKK has waged a decades-long insurgency against Turkey in which tens of thousands have been killed.

Turkey also wants Sweden and Finland to support its military operation against the People's Protection Units (YPG), a US-backed Syrian Kurdish group that played a crucial role in defeating the Islamic State. Turkey asserts that the YPG is an extension of the PKK.

Mr. Erdogan recently announced that Turkey would launch a new military operation to extend the Turkish armed forces' areas of control in Syria to a 30-kilometer swath of land along the two countries shared border. The offensive would target the YPG in the towns of Tel Rifaat and Manbij and possibly Kobani, Ain Issa, and Tell Tamer.

Watch | Ankara renews military offensive threats; Russia warns Turkiye against Syrian offensive

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Past US and European failure to stand up for Kurdish rights, as part of Turkey's need to meet the criteria for NATO membership that include "fair treatment of minority populations," has complicated the fight against the Islamic State, stymied Kurdish aspirations beyond Turkey's borders and enabled repression of Kurdish rights in Turkey.

More immediately, the failure to hold Turkey accountable for its repression of Kurdish ethnic and political rights within the framework of the Turkish state has enabled Ankara to establish Turkish policies as a condition for NATO membership even if they violate NATO membership criteria.

Those policies include defining the peaceful expression of Kurdish identity as terrorism and the rolling back of Kurdish language and cultural rights since the collapse in 2015 of peace talks with the PKK. Turkey lifted the ban on Kurdish languages and the word Kurd in 1991. Until then, Kurds were referred to as ‘mountain Turks.’

The governor of the southeastern Turkish province of Diyarbakir, widely seen as a hub of Kurdish cultural and political activity, forced this writer under treat of death to leave the region for using the word Kurd rather than mountain Turk in interviews in the 1980s.

Kurdish language programs in universities have dwindled in recent years amid administrative hurdles, while Kurdish parents complain of pressure not to enroll their children in elective Kurdish courses.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-walks-out-of-security-council-meeting-after-eu-blames-kremlin-for-looming-food-crisis-485958">Russia walks out of Security Council meeting after EU blames Kremlin for looming food crisis</a>

Most Kurdish-language services and activities created by local administrations were terminated by government-appointed trustees who replaced dozens of Kurdish mayors ousted by Ankara for alleged links to the PKK. Many of the ousted mayors and other leading Kurdish politicians remain behind bars.

The failure to take Turkey to task early on takes on added significance at a time when NATO casts the war in Ukraine as a battle of values and of democracy versus autocracy that will shape the contours of a 21st-century world order.

For his part, US President Joe Biden has sought to regain the moral high ground in the wake of the Trump presidency that broke with American liberalism by declaring “America is back” in the struggle for democratic and human rights.

Mr. Biden and Europe’s problem is that their credibility rides on cleaning up at home and ensuring that they are seen as sincere rather than hypocritical.

That’s a tall order amid assertions of structural racism on both sides of the Atlantic; controversy over gun ownership in the United States; preferential arrangements for Ukrainian refugees as opposed to non-Europeans and non-whites fleeing war, persecution, and destruction; and foreign policies that treat violations of human and political rights differently depending on who commits them.

The obvious place to start is at home. Kurds could be another starting point, with Finnish and Swedish NATO membership on the front burner. Meeting Turkish demands regarding perpetrators of political violence is one thing; acquiescing in the criminalization of legitimate Kurdish political and cultural expression is another.

That may be a tough bargain to drive home in Ankara. However, it would offer a compromise formula that could serve everyone’s interest and help Turkey solve a problem that promises to be one of the Middle East’s multiple exploding powder kegs.

(Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

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US and European acquiescence in Turkey's long-standing refusal to honour Kurdish ethnic, cultural, and political rights has come home to roost with Turkish opposition to Finnish and Swedish NATO membership.

US and European acquiescence in Turkey's long-standing refusal to honour Kurdish ethnic, cultural, and political rights has come home to roost with Turkish opposition to Finnish and Swedish NATO membership. The opposition has sparked debates about Turkey's controversial place in the North Atlantic defense alliance. Turkey’s detractors point to its problematic military intervention in Syria, relations with Russia, refusal to sanction Moscow, and alleged fuelling of tension in the eastern Mediterranean, calling the country’s NATO membership into question. Its defenders note that Turkey, NATO’s second-largest standing military, is key to maintaining the alliance’s southern flank. Also, Turkey’s geography, population size, economy, military power, and cultural links to a Turkic world make it a critical link between Europe and Asia. In addition, Turkish drones have been vital in Ukraine's war with Russia, while Turkey has been a mediator in the conflict, albeit with limited success. Also Read | Russian foreign minister visits Turkey to discuss Ukraine grain exports Kurdish rights hardly figure in the debates, and if they do, only as a prop for taking Turkey to task for its slide into authoritarianism. An ethnic group spread across southeastern Turkey, northern Iraq, northern Syria, and western Iran, Kurds are seen at best as assets in the fight against the Islamic State and at worst a threat to Turkish security and territorial integrity. Turkey's estimated 16 million Kurds account for up to 20 per cent of the country's population. Turkey, or Turkiye as it wants to be known going forward, has used the security argument to make its agreement to Swedish and Finnish NATO membership dependent on the two Nordic countries effectively accepting its definition of terrorism as including any national expression of Kurdish identity. Turkey has demanded that Sweden and Finland extradite 33 people, some of whom are Swedish or Finnish nationals, because of their alleged support for the Kurdish Workers Party (PKK) or exiled preacher Fethullah Gulen, whom President Recep Tayyip Erdogan holds responsible for a failed military coup in 2016. Turkey accuses the two Nordic countries of allowing the PKK to organize on their territory. Alongside the United States and the European Union, Turkey has designated the PKK as a terrorist organisation. The PKK has waged a decades-long insurgency against Turkey in which tens of thousands have been killed. Turkey also wants Sweden and Finland to support its military operation against the People's Protection Units (YPG), a US-backed Syrian Kurdish group that played a crucial role in defeating the Islamic State. Turkey asserts that the YPG is an extension of the PKK. Mr. Erdogan recently announced that Turkey would launch a new military operation to extend the Turkish armed forces' areas of control in Syria to a 30-kilometer swath of land along the two countries shared border. The offensive would target the YPG in the towns of Tel Rifaat and Manbij and possibly Kobani, Ain Issa, and Tell Tamer. Watch | Ankara renews military offensive threats; Russia warns Turkiye against Syrian offensive × Past US and European failure to stand up for Kurdish rights, as part of Turkey's need to meet the criteria for NATO membership that include "fair treatment of minority populations," has complicated the fight against the Islamic State, stymied Kurdish aspirations beyond Turkey's borders and enabled repression of Kurdish rights in Turkey. More immediately, the failure to hold Turkey accountable for its repression of Kurdish ethnic and political rights within the framework of the Turkish state has enabled Ankara to establish Turkish policies as a condition for NATO membership even if they violate NATO membership criteria. Those policies include defining the peaceful expression of Kurdish identity as terrorism and the rolling back of Kurdish language and cultural rights since the collapse in 2015 of peace talks with the PKK. Turkey lifted the ban on Kurdish languages and the word Kurd in 1991. Until then, Kurds were referred to as ‘mountain Turks.’ The governor of the southeastern Turkish province of Diyarbakir, widely seen as a hub of Kurdish cultural and political activity, forced this writer under treat of death to leave the region for using the word Kurd rather than mountain Turk in interviews in the 1980s. Kurdish language programs in universities have dwindled in recent years amid administrative hurdles, while Kurdish parents complain of pressure not to enroll their children in elective Kurdish courses. Also Read | Russia walks out of Security Council meeting after EU blames Kremlin for looming food crisis Most Kurdish-language services and activities created by local administrations were terminated by government-appointed trustees who replaced dozens of Kurdish mayors ousted by Ankara for alleged links to the PKK. Many of the ousted mayors and other leading Kurdish politicians remain behind bars. The failure to take Turkey to task early on takes on added significance at a time when NATO casts the war in Ukraine as a battle of values and of democracy versus autocracy that will shape the contours of a 21st-century world order. For his part, US President Joe Biden has sought to regain the moral high ground in the wake of the Trump presidency that broke with American liberalism by declaring “America is back” in the struggle for democratic and human rights. Mr. Biden and Europe’s problem is that their credibility rides on cleaning up at home and ensuring that they are seen as sincere rather than hypocritical. That’s a tall order amid assertions of structural racism on both sides of the Atlantic; controversy over gun ownership in the United States; preferential arrangements for Ukrainian refugees as opposed to non-Europeans and non-whites fleeing war, persecution, and destruction; and foreign policies that treat violations of human and political rights differently depending on who commits them. The obvious place to start is at home. Kurds could be another starting point, with Finnish and Swedish NATO membership on the front burner. Meeting Turkish demands regarding perpetrators of political violence is one thing; acquiescing in the criminalization of legitimate Kurdish political and cultural expression is another. That may be a tough bargain to drive home in Ankara. However, it would offer a compromise formula that could serve everyone’s interest and help Turkey solve a problem that promises to be one of the Middle East’s multiple exploding powder kegs. (Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Double standards haunt US and Europe in NATO dispute with Turkey

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Tueday began his two-day visit to Turkey for talks over unblocking grain export from Ukraine. Food grain exports from Ukraine are currently facing hurdles due to ongoing Russian invasion. Ukraine is often called 'breadbasket of Europe' and stalled grain exports are likely to cause a wider food crisis in the world.

Lavrov was forced to cancel a visit to Serbia on Monday after several of its neighbours prevented his plane from passing through their airspace.&nbsp;

Following the request of United Nations, Turkey has agreed to provide services to escort maritime convoys from ports of Ukraine. There are mines in the waterways. Some of them have been detected near the Turkish coast.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergeo Lavrov is accompanied by a military delegation and he is due to meet his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu on Wednesday.

This is Lavrov's second Turkey visit. On March 10, he met Cavusoglu and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba.

Negotiations will mainly circle around opening of a security corridor in order to ship grains from Ukraine.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-walks-out-of-security-council-meeting-after-eu-blames-kremlin-for-looming-food-crisis-485958">Russia walks out of Security Council meeting after EU blames Kremlin for looming food crisis</a>

An agreement between Ankara and Kyiv was hinted by Turkish Agriculture Minister Vahit Kirisci, said local media.

"But they (Ukrainians) have a dilemma about security and export. They want us to be the arbitrator here as Turkey. Negotiations continue under the auspices of the UN," he was quoted as saying.

"Both Russia and Ukraine trust us."

The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement it "appreciates Turkey's efforts aimed at unblocking Ukrainian ports" but added that "for the moment there is no agreement on this point between Ukraine, Turkey and Russia."

"Decisions must be taken with the participation of all parties concerned", the ministry said.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Tueday began his two-day visit to Turkey for talks over unblocking grain export from Ukraine. Food grain exports from Ukraine are currently facing hurdles due to ongoing Russian invasion.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Tueday began his two-day visit to Turkey for talks over unblocking grain export from Ukraine. Food grain exports from Ukraine are currently facing hurdles due to ongoing Russian invasion. Ukraine is often called 'breadbasket of Europe' and stalled grain exports are likely to cause a wider food crisis in the world. Lavrov was forced to cancel a visit to Serbia on Monday after several of its neighbours prevented his plane from passing through their airspace. Following the request of United Nations, Turkey has agreed to provide services to escort maritime convoys from ports of Ukraine. There are mines in the waterways. Some of them have been detected near the Turkish coast. Russian Foreign Minister Sergeo Lavrov is accompanied by a military delegation and he is due to meet his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu on Wednesday. This is Lavrov's second Turkey visit. On March 10, he met Cavusoglu and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba. Negotiations will mainly circle around opening of a security corridor in order to ship grains from Ukraine. Also Read | Russia walks out of Security Council meeting after EU blames Kremlin for looming food crisis An agreement between Ankara and Kyiv was hinted by Turkish Agriculture Minister Vahit Kirisci, said local media. "But they (Ukrainians) have a dilemma about security and export. They want us to be the arbitrator here as Turkey. Negotiations continue under the auspices of the UN," he was quoted as saying. "Both Russia and Ukraine trust us." The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement it "appreciates Turkey's efforts aimed at unblocking Ukrainian ports" but added that "for the moment there is no agreement on this point between Ukraine, Turkey and Russia." "Decisions must be taken with the participation of all parties concerned", the ministry said. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Russian foreign minister visits Turkey to discuss Ukraine grain exports

What is behind Turkey’s Syria incursion threats?

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is planning a military incursion into Syria to drive back Kurdish fighters. Both Russia and the US have warned Erdogan against destabilising Syria. Will Turkey's military plans drag NATO and Russia into a new conflict? Palki Sharma Upadhyay tells you.

Gravitas: Is Turkey planning to invade Syria?

Ukraine's Ambassador to Turkiye&nbsp;Vasyl Bodnar on Friday alleged that Russia was stealing Ukrainian grain and sending it abroad including to Turkey.

"Russia shamelessly steals Ukrainian grain and sends it overseas from Crimea, including to Turkey," said Ambassador Bodnar. He was quoted by AFP.

"We have asked for Turkey's help to resolve the issue," he added in a message on Twitter.

Ukraine has been a major exporter of wheat and sunflower oil. However, Russian invasion of the country has disrupted the export leading many to predict a global food crisis. Russian invasion started on February 24. The conflict has completed 100 days.

Watch | 100 days of the Russia-Ukraine war: No end in sight

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Turkiye&nbsp;has been doing a careful balancing act between Ukraine and Russia, it has cordial ties with both countries.

NATO member Turkiye&nbsp;has delivered combat drones to Ukraine and sought to act as mediator in the conflict, but has refrained from slapping sanctions on Russia on which it relies for grain and energy.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/victory-will-be-ours-says-ukraine-president-zelensky-on-100th-day-of-fight-with-russia-484883">'Victory will be ours,' says Ukraine President Zelensky on 100th day of fight with Russia</a>

At the request of United Nations, Turkiye&nbsp;has offered to to help secure maritime corridors for the export of Ukrainian grain.

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is due to visit Turkiye&nbsp;on Wednesday.&nbsp;

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-war-eu-bans-most-russian-oil-targets-putins-alleged-girlfriend-with-sanctions-484812">Ukraine war: EU bans most Russian oil, targets Putin's alleged girlfriend with sanctions</a>

Food prices have soared since the war began, with countries in Africa and the Middle East particularly at risk since grain cannot be delivered because of the Russian navy blockade of Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Ukraine's Ambassador to Turkiye Vasyl Bodnar on Friday alleged that Russia was stealing Ukrainian grain and sending it abroad including to Turkey. "Russia shamelessly steals Ukrainian grain and sends it overseas from Crimea, including to Turkey," said Ambassador Bodnar.

Ukraine's Ambassador to Turkiye Vasyl Bodnar on Friday alleged that Russia was stealing Ukrainian grain and sending it abroad including to Turkey. "Russia shamelessly steals Ukrainian grain and sends it overseas from Crimea, including to Turkey," said Ambassador Bodnar. He was quoted by AFP. "We have asked for Turkey's help to resolve the issue," he added in a message on Twitter. Ukraine has been a major exporter of wheat and sunflower oil. However, Russian invasion of the country has disrupted the export leading many to predict a global food crisis. Russian invasion started on February 24. The conflict has completed 100 days. Watch | 100 days of the Russia-Ukraine war: No end in sight × Turkiye has been doing a careful balancing act between Ukraine and Russia, it has cordial ties with both countries. NATO member Turkiye has delivered combat drones to Ukraine and sought to act as mediator in the conflict, but has refrained from slapping sanctions on Russia on which it relies for grain and energy. Also Read | 'Victory will be ours,' says Ukraine President Zelensky on 100th day of fight with Russia At the request of United Nations, Turkiye has offered to to help secure maritime corridors for the export of Ukrainian grain. Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is due to visit Turkiye on Wednesday. Also Read | Ukraine war: EU bans most Russian oil, targets Putin's alleged girlfriend with sanctions Food prices have soared since the war began, with countries in Africa and the Middle East particularly at risk since grain cannot be delivered because of the Russian navy blockade of Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Ukraine envoy to Turkiye accuses Russia of stealing Ukrainian grain

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