Turkey

ANKARA; 31 Jan 2019; AA: Istanbul police Thursday seized some 1,350 kilogram (2,976 pounds) of illegal drugs including heroin and skunk weed in separate operations across the city, governor said.

Istanbul Governor Ali Yerlikaya said on Twitter that at least five people were arrested during the large-scale bust.

31 Jan 2019; DW: When opposition leader Juan Guaido declared himself Venezuela's interim president last week, Recep Tayyip Erdogan was one of the few state leaders to call Nicolas Maduro to express his unwavering support for the embattled leader. In a sense, the Turkish president was paying his respects to Maduro, who came out in support Erdogan after the failed coup in Turkey in July 2016.

ISTANBUL; 28 Jan 2019; AA: Turkish opposition party leader strongly on Sunday condemned U.S. President Donald Trump's “coup attempt” against Venezuelan president.

“I strongly condemn Trump’s coup attempt against [Venezuelan President Nicolas] Maduro and I hope Venezuela survives this hardship without being dragged into civil war conditions,” Devlet Bahceli, head of opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), said at his party’s group dinner in Istanbul.

ANKARA; 26 Jan 2019; AA: Millions of Syrians living in Turkey will be able to return to their homeland after Ankara liberates Syria's Manbij, Tal Rifaat and the region East of the Euphrates River from terrorists, Turkish president said on Saturday.

ANKARA, January 25. /TASS/. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has ruled out the possibility of UN involvement in efforts to create a safe zone in northern Syria.

"Looking at numerous examples, we see that the UN is unable to do anything when it comes to setting up a safe zone. Turkey is the only force that can do that," the Turkish leader said on Friday in the city of Erzurum. His speech was broadcast by the NTV television channel.

ANKARA, January 24. /TASS/. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday he was shocked by the decision of US President Donald Trump to recognize Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido as interim president.

"I was shocked by Trump's attitude [to the situation in Venezuela]. It is necessary to respect the person who won the election. We are coming out against any anti-democratic actions," Erdogan told a news conference in Ankara after talks with Maltese President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca.

22 Jan 2019; DW: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will meet his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin. Their alliance is in good shape, so what's left to talk about for two men who've engineered themselves all-powerful presidencies?

ANKARA, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- Turkey will never allow that the implementation of a safe zone in Syria be turned into "swamp" like in northern Iraq, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday.

Speaking at an event in Ankara, Erodgan said the planning 32-km safe zone in northern Syria must not be another new ground against Turkey, adding that its aim should be keeping terrorist organizations away from Turkey's border.

HATAY, Turkey; 21 Jan 2019; AA: Turkey’s counter-terrorist operation in Manbij, Syria will start at the right time, Turkey’s defense minister said on Sunday.

“The current Syrian problem areas are Manbij and east of the Euphrates; our plans, preparations and logistics are completed.

"The operations in Manbij and east of the Euphrates will start when the right time comes,” said Hulusi Akar in Hatay, southern Turkey, marking the first anniversary of the start of Turkey’s Operation Olive Branch.

ANKARA, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday that his country will set up a 32-km safe zone in northern Syria, following a consensus with U.S. President Donald Trump.

During a speech to the lawmakers of his ruling Justice and Development Party in the parliament, Erdogan said that he held a "quite positive" phone conversation with Trump late Monday, discussing the possibility of creating a safe zone in northern Syria.