Turkey

29 Aug 2020; MEMO: United Arab Emirates has sent many spy agents to Syria to train YPG/PKK terrorists over the past few years, Anadolu Agency has learned from multiple sources.

After holding secret talks with the terrorists in 2017, the UAE sent intelligence officers in the area the following year.

They train YPG/PKK terrorists in espionage, counter-espionage, sabotage, assassination acts, signal intelligence, information security and communication networks.

29 Aug 2020; AA: Turkey's foreign minister warned Greece on Saturday against doubling its territorial waters in the Ionian Sea from 6 to 12 nautical miles.

"They cannot extend it to 12 miles. The decision taken by our Assembly years ago is valid. This could cause war,” Mevlut Cavusoglu told news channel A Haber.

29 Aug 2020; MEMO: The Istanbul governor’s office on Saturday issued a statement titled “Pandemic Measures for Weddings in Istanbul”, banning some indoor gatherings as of Monday, Anadolu Agency reports.

According to the statement, some events and gatherings including engagement ceremonies, and similar activities will not be allowed in any indoor areas as part of new measures to stem the spread of the virus.

29 Aug 2020; MEMO: Turkey will not hesitate to shoot down any United Arab Emirates (UAE) aircraft if Turkish sovereignty is violated in the eastern Mediterranean, Al-Quds Al-Araby reported on Friday.

ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Turkey said it will hold a military exercise off northwest Cyprus for the next two weeks, amid growing tension with Greece over disputed claims to exploration rights in the east Mediterranean.

The long-running dispute between Turkey and Greece, both NATO members, flared up after the two countries agreed rival accords on their maritime boundaries with Libya and Egypt, and Turkey sent a survey vessel into contested waters this month.

27 Aug 2020; MEMO: Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on Tuesday warned Greece against making further escalations in the Eastern Mediterranean region.

“If you take wrong steps, we don’t want to say we will make a mistake, but we will do what is necessary without hesitation,” the Turkish minister said during a joint press conference with his German counterpart Heiko Maas in Ankara.

ANKARA, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday that his country will defend its right of hydrocarbon explorations in the Eastern Mediterranean and make "no concessions."

"Turkey has no intentions on anyone's land, sovereignty or interests, but it will not make concessions on its rights," the Turkish leader said at an event in Mus, eastern Turkey, according to semi-official Anadolu Agency.

ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Turkey is determined to do whatever is necessary to obtain its rights in the Black Sea, Aegean and Mediterranean, President Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday.

Speaking at an event commemorating the 11th century military victory by Seljuk Turks over the Byzantine empire at Malazgirt, Erdogan also called on Ankara’s counterparts to avoid mistakes that he said would bring their destruction.

“We will not compromise what is ours... We are determined to do whatever is necessary,” Erdogan said.

25 Aug 2020; MEMO: President Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday Turkey’s navy will not back down as Greece “sows chaos” in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, where the countries have deployed frigates in an escalating rhetorical confrontation over overlapping resource claims.

ISTANBUL, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday said that Turkey has achieved solid progress in its defense industry and is able to meet its national defense and security needs.

"The distance we have covered in the defense industry has recently contributed to the achievement of many strategic successes both within and outside our borders," Erdogan said at the delivery ceremony of new naval systems in Istanbul.