According to a press release by the KTTO, the KTTO Ankara Office, which was opened with the aim of helping businesspeople residing in the "TRNC" in their export and trade opportunities search in Turkey, was established under the Turkish Economy Ministry's Directorate General of Incentive Implementation and Foreign Investment.

The contact office is set to work towards carrying cooperation and trade demands mutually with Turkey, providing information now from Turkey for market, research and development and promotion researches, further developing relations with government agencies in Turkey, supporting joint projects and works, representing the KTTO and its members and carrying out coordination and organization of business contacts of the KTTO members in Turkey.

[B] Turkish Press

[01] Erdogan: Turkey 'won't take step back' against US

"You [the U.S] cannot make Turkey take a step back through sanctions", he told reporters in Zambia before returning to Ankara, referring to statements from U.S. President Donald Trump, U.S. Vice President Mike Pence and the U.S. Defence Ministry.

The latest remarks from Washington amount to "psychological warfare," according to Erdogan.

"In my opinion, these are all [parts of] psychological warfare," he said.

On July 26, both Trump and Pence threatened Turkey with "sanctions" if Brunson, who was given house arrest on July 25 after staying behind bars for nearly two years on terrorism charges, was not freed. (…)

The President said Turkey may seek to resort to international arbitration if the sale of the F-35 jets to Ankara is blocked. "If it comes to that point, there are alternatives," he said. "We will continue with patience. But it should not be forgotten that we are not living in a world without alternatives," he said. (…)

"If the U.S. does not change this attitude they should not forget they will lose a sincere and strong partner like Turkey," he added.

Referring to the reports, which alleged a deal, had been brokered between Turkey and the U.S. for the release of Turkish national Ebru Ozkan from an Israeli prison in return for the release of Brunson, Erdogan said Turkey "had never made Brunson a subject of bargain". (…)

"We told the Americans they could help Ebru, who was released and is not guilty, and facilitate her return to Turkey by giving her back her passport," said the President. "But we never said we would give them Brunson in return," Erdogan added. (…)

[02] Turkey to convene summit to take up regional issues with Russia, Germany, France

The meetings in Istanbul and Ankara will allow Russian President Vladimir Putin and himself to maintain a proper channel of communication with respect to Syria, Erdogan said. "We had the opportunity to discuss Syria on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in South Africa. I asked him [Putin] to take the necessary precautions against the possible regime attacks on Idlib, which we would find unacceptable. As you know, we have established 12 military observation posts around Idlib". (…)

The Istanbul summit on Sept. 7 will allow all four countries to take up a wide-ranging set of issues, including Iraq, he said, while noting that the Syria-focused Tehran meeting was the continuation of the Astana process. (…)

[03] Erdogan calls on the leaders of the five-country block BRICS to let Turkey join the group

The BRICS group, made up of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, invited Turkey to 10th annual meeting as the term chair of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). Erdogan travelled to Johannesburg along with the country's Foreign Minister, Finance and Treasury Minister, Defense Minister, Commerce Minister and ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) officials on July 26.

Erdogan also said that the BRICS members welcomed his suggestion warmly. "Especially China says that it stands in favour of enlargement. I have seen that they are considering involving other countries in this platform. They are not opposed to it," he said.

"We are in the G-20 with five of those countries. I wish they take the necessary steps to let us in and we take our place in the BRICS," he added.

Pointing to the potential of partnering in economy, investments and development projects with the BRICS countries, Erdogan said: "I believe that it is not right to stay away from such groupings".

TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

(DPs / AM)

Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article