Politics
Confidence in Türkiye rises for fair approach to ongoing war: Minister
As top officials of the Gulf countries came together to assess the impact of the U.S.-Israel-Iran war, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan joined them last week. The top diplomat of Iran’s neighbor and NATO ally of the United States reminded how Türkiye’s stand was clear on the unfolding conflict.
“We see the confidence in Türkiye is rising (after the war began). We never adopted an ambivalent stance on the matter. Everyone is aware that we told each side what mistakes they made. We strongly and clearly voice our opinion about how it was wrong what was done to Iran and as well as to the Gulf countries,” he told journalists on Saturday.
Fidan also said that the Gulf countries said during a meeting in Saudi Arabia’s capital Riyadh that they may have to take action if the current situation persists, stressing the increased risk level. The minister embarked on a regional tour encompassing Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) earlier this week.
He said Gulf countries estimate that the war will continue for another two or three weeks, emphasizing the importance of the U.S. in this matter. He added that the Gulf countries said they had declared from the outset that they would not allow their airspace or the bases on their territory to be used against Iran and that they would not be part of this war. He added that these countries also said Iran has deliberately carried out attacks not only on military bases but also on civilian infrastructure and economic targets.
“Israel will try to influence the U.S. and will seek to prevent a cease-fire or the achievement of peace in the near term. There has been a growing assessment that the U.S. and Israel’s initial positions are drifting apart. This, in turn, could lead to a longer war,” he told reporters in the Turkish capital of Ankara. Fidan said that negotiations while the war is ongoing do not appear very likely. He added, however, that one possibility to consider is that, following a short-term cease-fire, “the parties could begin negotiations during that period while also keeping open the option of resuming the war if the talks fail.
“Israel may adopt a policy of prolonging the war as much as possible in order to inflict greater damage on Iran.”
Noting that Tel Aviv initiated the war, Fidan said the issue is not the absence of plans to end the war, but rather Israel’s lack of willingness to pursue peace.
Changes in the Gulf
After the war, many changes may happen in Gulf countries, said Fidan, adding that the countries may begin seeking new options in the field of defense.
“After the war ends, Gulf countries may clearly set out their expectations of Iran, and if certain conditions are met, the focus could shift to economic cooperation. Iran, too, may come forward with certain demands regarding U.S. bases in the Gulf,” he said.
Stressing that they do not in any way want the situation to “turn into a prolonged war that would draw in the entire region,” Fidan said Ankara will continue to make use of all diplomatic channels, “particularly regional initiatives such as the meeting held in Riyadh yesterday, in order to bring the war to an end as soon as possible.”
‘Common ground’
Regarding the meeting in Riyadh on March 19, under Saudi Arabia’s hosting, Fidan said the Gulf countries organized this meeting with a single agenda item.
“The meeting was held to gather the regional countries’ assessments regarding the attacks carried out by Iran against these countries. All regional countries directly or indirectly affected by the war were around the table. It was intended as an effort to seek common ground.”
Fidan said that everyone at the meeting underscored the urgency of the situation, adding that the meeting had a single-item agenda and that the joint statement reflected this as well.
“We are maintaining our principled stance. We oppose both Israel’s aggression and expansionism and Iran’s actions aimed at spreading the war across the region. Although the Riyadh meeting was organized solely around the Iran agenda, we emphasized Israel’s role in the emergence of this war. Moreover, we ensured that the joint statement referred to the threat posed by Israel’s expansionism in the region,” he said.
They voiced these criticisms at the highest level on every platform and took steps accordingly, Fidan said, stressing that Türkiye has been the country criticizing Israel most strongly from the very beginning.
On the issue of mediation, Fidan said: “The proposals we are putting forward from where we stand are in fact part of a search for stability, something that is in everyone’s interest.”
“But when the parties prioritize gain, victory, or domination over stability, the matter moves to a different point. In that case, talks are held merely for the sake of talking. They are conducted in order to advance the main agenda in a different way. We are receiving indications to that effect.”
Relations with EU
Highlighting President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s stance on relations with the EU, Fidan said that “we also expect the emergence of political will in Europe to carry out the membership process with us,” drawing attention to the fact that Türkiye’s objective has not changed.
Fidan said maintaining good relations with the EU remains very important in every respect in any case, adding that the modernization of the customs union and visa liberalization are important issues and that talks on these matters are continuing.
“We are maintaining a certain degree of stability in relations. They are not deteriorating, and they could improve further,” he added.
Noting that the EU requires Türkiye in an array of areas, including combating illegal migration and terrorism, he said: “They are also constantly knocking on our door on issues such as the evacuation of their citizens from Iran, the Middle East, and elsewhere. We are providing the necessary support in these matters as well. Our military capabilities are already clear.”
“Work by the relevant institutions is continuing on the remaining six criteria concerning visa liberalization,” he added.
Former Culture and Tourism Minister Atilla Koç and his daughter, former minister of Family and Social Services Zehra Zümrüt Selçuk, were among eight people injured in a pileup in the central province of Eskişehir late Sunday.
The father and the daughter were transferred to a hospital in Ankara, while the others were taken to nearby hospitals after the accident in a rural part of Eskişehir’s Sivrihisar district. None of the injured were in critical condition.
Justice Minister Akın Gürlek said in a statement that an investigation was launched into the incident while offering get-well-soon wishes to former ministers and the other victims.
Atilla Koç, 80, a two-term lawmaker for the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party), served as minister of Culture and Tourism between 2005 and 2007. His daughter Zehra Zümrüt Selçuk served as minister of Family, Labor and Social Services between 2018 and 2021, before the ministry’s name was changed. Selçuk currently serves as director general of the Statistical, Economic and Social Research and Training Centre for Islamic Countries (SESRIC), a subsidiary of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect the editorial stance, values or position of Daily Sabah. The newspaper provides space for diverse perspectives as part of its commitment to open and informed public discussion.
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan engaged in an intense phone diplomacy on Sunday for an end to the U.S.-Israel-Iran war. Foreign Ministry sources said he held talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein and U.S. officials.
Fidan recently returned from a Gulf trip where he held talks with counterparts and attended a meeting in Riyadh over the Gulf countries’ response to the war, which quickly expanded into those countries.
“We see the confidence in Türkiye is rising (after the war began). We never adopted an ambivalent stance on the matter. Everyone is aware that we told each side what mistakes they made. We strongly and clearly voice our opinion about how it was wrong what was done to Iran and as well as to the Gulf countries,” he told journalists on Saturday.
Fidan also said that the Gulf countries said during a meeting in Saudi Arabia’s capital Riyadh that they may have to take action if the current situation persists, stressing the increased risk level.
The Ministry of Family and Social Services has completed 11 social risk maps that will guide it for targeted improvement.
The maps visualize geographically the social risks citizens face based on data analysis. A digital monitoring system based on the maps will be initially introduced in the cities of Gaziantep, Manisa, Niğde, Van, Sinop, Edirne, Aksaray, Adana, Izmir, Afyonkarahisar and Trabzon. The ministry plans to complete 24 more maps in the near future.
The ministry said in a statement on Sunday that the project focused on “social risk points” for each household based on thoroughly analyzed social, economic and psycho-social indicators.
In addition to identifying the current situation, these points are intended to contribute to the early detection of social risks and the strengthening of preventative services. In line with the data obtained, a new implementation process will be launched under the “Family Guide” and “Children are Safe” digital tracking systems. These are integrated support mechanisms for high-risk households, which will be activated in coordination with various ministries and public institutions.
The ministry said that the social risk maps go beyond the traditional social assistance approach, forming the foundation of a data-driven, goal-oriented and preventative model. The aim is to empower families and protect children through efforts integrated with education, health, employment and local governments. As social risk points are applied in the field, the goal is to increase the capacity for early intervention, especially for vulnerable groups, and to ensure more effective use of public resources. Following the experience gained in specific provinces, the model will be gradually expanded across the country.
The social risk map is a system in which social risks that individuals and society may encounter are analyzed based on data and visualized at a geographical level. These maps allow for the holistic monitoring of various social phenomena, such as violence against women, child abuse, and the needs of persons with disabilities.
Risk analyses are conducted at the provincial, district, neighborhood and even household levels using 648 social indicators. Thanks to the data obtained, vulnerable groups are identified at an early stage, and protective/preventative social service policies are developed.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect the editorial stance, values or position of Daily Sabah. The newspaper provides space for diverse perspectives as part of its commitment to open and informed public discussion.
Türkiye’s intelligence chief İbrahim Kalın met with members of Hamas’ political bureau in Istanbul to discuss Israel’s continued attacks on Palestinians and violations of Gaza cease-fire, security sources said Sunday.
The talks focused on Israel’s actions in Gaza and across the region, with participants emphasizing unity against what they described as occupation and destabilization policies. Officials stressed that no “fait accompli” would be accepted.
Discussions also addressed the second phase of the Gaza cease-fire agreement reached in October last year, highlighting the need to halt attacks and ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid. Concerns were raised over Israel’s failure to meet obligations under the first phase of the deal.
At least 677 Palestinians have been killed and 1,813 injured in Israeli attacks across the Gaza Strip since the cease-fire, according to the territory’s Health Ministry.
The cease-fire halted Israel’s two-year war that has killed more than 72,000 Palestinians and injured over 171,000 since October 2023, along with widespread destruction of about 90% of civilian infrastructure.
The meeting further reviewed rising settler violence in the West Bank and increasing pressure by Israeli forces on Palestinians, exploring possible responses.
Hamas representatives thanked President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for Türkiye’s efforts to support peace in Gaza, while sources said Ankara would continue intensifying its diplomatic efforts to achieve a lasting cease-fire.
The mediation system introduced by the Justice Ministry in 2013 led to the resolution of more than 5.6 million cases, saving time by preventing court appearances.
The ministry said in a statement on Sunday that the system, “a great contribution to social peace,” has been a success so far.
Mediation, an alternative dispute resolution method that reduces courts’ caseload and speeds up judicial processes, enables parties to reach agreements more quickly and resolve disputes amicably.
Introduced into the Turkish legal system in 2012, mediation began to be applied on a voluntary basis after 2013. To date, a total of 9,273,260 cases have been submitted to the system. Of these, 5,630,707 were resolved through mutual agreement and amicable settlement, corresponding to an overall success rate of 62%.
Following the strong performance of voluntary mediation, which was launched in practice on Nov. 14, 2013, the Justice Ministry gradually expanded its scope. Mediation has since become an effective mechanism in disputes where it is a precondition to filing a lawsuit, including labor, commercial, consumer and rental disputes, as well as cases involving the dissolution of partnerships, condominium ownership, neighborhood law and agricultural contracts, allowing hundreds of thousands of cases to be resolved without going to court.
Observers say the steady expansion of mediation demonstrates the potential for a less adversarial and more communicative society, offering long-term benefits for both the legal system and social cohesion.
Mediator lawyer Fatma Bozkurt Saraç told Anadolu Agency (AA) that voluntary participation has played a major role in the system’s growth. Of the files concluded in 2025, about 920,000 stemmed from voluntary applications.
“In these cases, the parties themselves chose the mediator who would accompany them in resolving the dispute,” Saraç said. “At least 1.64 million parties resolved their disputes definitively and permanently in a short time, without waiting years for a hearing date, without litigation costs and without facing the risk of an unwanted judicial decision.”
She added that even when mediation does not end in an agreement, it enables parties to negotiate and communicate in a constructive manner. According to Saraç, the competence, impartiality and independence of mediators help ensure effective participation and encourage solutions that better meet the needs of both sides.
Mediation lawyer Semih Biten told AA that 2025 marked a turning point, showing that mediation in Türkiye has evolved into an established solution method rather than merely an alternative.
Nearly 2 million mediation applications were made last year, and the vast majority resulted in agreements, Biten said. “This picture reflects not only judicial statistics but also the mood of society,” he noted. “The culture of reconciliation in Türkiye has moved beyond the initial stage and is taking root. People increasingly understand the difference between being right and actually solving a problem.”
The ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) accelerated work for reforms in municipalities for accountability and transparency. The Local Administration Reform proposed by the party aims for a comprehensive overhaul of the administrations in 81 provinces and hundreds of districts run by elected officials.
The reforms were already being considered, but AK Party apparently seeks to speed up their implementation in light of corruption scandals in municipalities run by the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP). The municipalities and mayors have been under fire for excessive spending and seeking to dodge responsibility in their primary tasks.
Along with revenues from their subsidiaries, the municipalities benefit from the allocation of funds by the government. The Social Security Institution (SGK) also supports the municipalities on social security premiums for their staff, and for a while, postponed municipalities’ debts for social security. The issue was in the spotlight in recent years as the government revealed that the CHP-run municipalities had outstanding debts. The expenses for the municipal staff are required not to exceed 40% of the municipal budget, but in some municipalities, they already amount for 60%. Under the reforms, the municipalities exceeding 40% threshold will face sanctions while the SGK will stop payment of premiums. These steps are expected to prevent the municipalities from accumulating debts.
When reforms are implemented, mayors and directors of municipal subsidiaries will face strict inspections for their expenses. The municipalities will also be required to have online disclosure of their activities periodically, to allow citizens to check which investments they made and how their taxes were used.
Another section of the reforms will be zoning regulations. The regulations will be strictly monitored for preservation of cities and ending excessive rises in rents and house prices, as well as office sales in rezoned areas.
The municipal projects failing to pass tests that are set to be introduced will be exempt from funding by the government.
The municipalities’ debt management will be restructured and bound to strict criteria. They will also be required to prioritize projects for the public good. The reforms will also introduce tougher regulations on municipalities’ revenues to boost accountability.
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