According to the statement made by the Presidency of the Turkish Grand National Assembly, before the NATO Heads of State and Government Summit to be held in Ankara on July 7-8, the parliamentary heads of NATO member countries will meet in Istanbul.

20 Parliamentary Speakers, 3 Parliamentary Deputy Speakers, NATO Parliamentary Assembly President Marcos Perestrello, NATO Deputy Secretary General Radmila Shekerinska, NATO PA Presidential Council members, high-level representatives of allied countries and international organizations will attend the summit, which will enable consultation and exchange of views at the parliamentary level between allied countries.

As part of the summit, parliamentary speakers from Albania, the United Kingdom, Bulgaria, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Croatia, the Netherlands, Sweden, Italy, North Macedonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Norway, Poland, Portugal and Slovakia will come together in Istanbul.

The summit, which has been organized by NATO PA in cooperation with host countries since 2024, is an important platform for strengthening parliamentary coordination before the NATO Leaders Summit.

NATO Speakers of Parliament Summit Meeting will be held on Monday, June 29, at Dolmabahçe Palace. At the meeting, parliamentary chairmen and delegation chairmen will make speeches.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is expected to meet with the participants and address them at the official lunch held within the scope of the summit.

As part of the summit program, a field visit to Baykar National Technology Center will be held for the participants in the afternoon of the same day. During the visit, it is planned to provide information about the company’s activities, work in the field of defense technologies and innovative projects.

The NATO Parliamentary Summit in Istanbul is the third summit after the summits held in the USA and Belgium.

Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz said, “We see that the Trump administration has an extremely positive approach towards Türkiye. We see that the positive relationship at the leadership level is also reflected in the relations between the countries.” he said.

TERRORISM-FREE Türkiye PROCESS!

Cevdet Yılmaz Törsüz regarding the Türkiye process and the legal regulation works said, “There is an effort to make it happen in time for this period. This law will come to the Parliament. It will take its final form with discussions in the commission and the general assembly.” he said.

Vice President Yılmaz said, “We see that the Trump administration has an extremely positive approach towards Türkiye. We see that the positive relationship at the leadership level is also reflected in the relations between the countries.” he used his words.

‘WE HAVE MANY FILES WITH AMERICA’

Cevdet Yılmaz pointed out that the NATO Summit to be held in Ankara will be one of the most important and interesting meetings in the history of NATO and said, “It will also be an important platform in terms of bilateral relations between the USA and Turkey. Both our President and Mr. Trump made positive statements about the bilateral meeting. We have quite a file with America. There have been a lot of problem areas accumulated recently. There are resolved ones. Therefore, there are important topics in the USA-Turkey relations. Especially CATSA sanctions. A positive development regarding Halk Bank.” “We continue our work on other sanctions. We see that the Trump administration has an extremely positive approach towards Türkiye. We see that the positive relationship, especially at the leadership level, is also reflected in the relations between the countries,” he said.

‘WE MAKE OUR PREPARATION IN OUR OWN KITCHEN’

Yılmaz, regarding the new constitution works, said, “The new constitution is our common desire. This is not a job that one party can do. As the People’s Alliance, we do not have the majority to change the constitution. It is an issue that we need to solve by coming together with other parties in the Parliament. We are calling here too, it is necessary to negotiate with principles, not with clenched fists. With this understanding, we are shaping our policy approaches to various issues in the constitution, not in the form of rigid articles, but in the form of approaches. We want to be ready when a climate is formed tomorrow with these approaches. Mr. President, under my chairmanship “We have held more than 20 meetings there. We are making this preparation in our own kitchen. We can say that our work is more or less complete. We have to look at the future of the new constitution. It is very important for young people to participate in the process.”

‘WE DISCUSS EVERY ISSUE’

Regarding whether there is any work on President Erdoğan’s candidacy in the new constitution studies, Yılmaz said, “We are not doing a specific study. We are working on the constitution in general. We discuss every issue within this study, of course. When the study is completed, we will present it to our President. Of course, we will meet with other parties.”

‘HE HAS EFFORTS TO REACH THIS PERIOD’

Regarding the legal regulation regarding the Terror-Free Turkey process, Yılmaz said, “There is an effort to catch up with this period. The closing date of the Parliament is not very clear. It is like the end of July. If necessary, it can be extended a little longer. Therefore, it is up to the will of the Parliament. This law will come to the Parliament. It will take its final form with discussions in the Commission and the General Assembly. It is an issue that is within the will of the Parliament. On the one hand, they say, ‘Leave the weapons, come, let’s make the necessary arrangements.’ The organization says, ‘I will leave it, but what kind of legal framework will it face? “There seems to be a need for legal engineering work here. In a sense, it will be an approach that will meet these two situations within the same law. What will be dealt with legally will be determined, but its implementation will be subject to certain conditions and a timetable,” he said.

On the question about the status of the leader of the terrorist organization, Abdullah Öcalan, Yılmaz said, “The focus of the legal work is clear at the moment. The organization will dissolve itself, lay down its weapons, and act within the main framework of the Parliamentary commission regarding the different groups here.”

‘PROVOCATION FOR ARMENIA-AZERBAIJAN PEACE’

Responding to the question about the Israeli Foreign Minister’s offer to recognize the Armenian genocide, Yilmaz said, “We cannot accept this approach as a matter of course, it is an unacceptable approach. It is clear why Israel is making such attempts. These are efforts that try to cover up their own genocide, their own crimes. No matter what they do, what happened in Gaza happened in front of the eyes of all humanity. It has gone down in history, it has been recorded, and it will never be forgotten. What happened in Gaza will never be forgotten.” “It will not be forgotten. We will continue to see the consequences of this in the conscience of humanity, both in the short term and in the long term. This can also be considered as a provocation towards peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan and normalization with Turkey,” he said.

Breaking news… President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made important statements at the “TİM 33rd General Assembly and Export Champions Award Ceremony” at the Haliç Congress Center. President Erdoğan said, “We have reached the level of exporting 992 million dollars per month in annual defense exports of 248 million dollars. We are now exporting in a week what we used to do in a year.” he said.

Good news from President Erdoğan to exporters: Daily limit of rediscount loans increased to 5 billion lira | Video

Highlights from President Erdoğan’s statements:

Türkiye has been growing uninterruptedly for the last 23 quarters. The momentum we have achieved in exports continues from where it left off in 2026. On May 22, daily exports broke its historical record with 2.4 billion dollars. Türkiye’s increasing success rate from year to year is obvious. We acted with the motto of not leaving a single customs gate in global markets where our flag does not fly. Our successes in exports have become our source of national motivation. We now export in a week what we used to do in a year. Another agenda of ours is to spread our exports throughout the country. We continue our efforts to make more of our provinces share in exports.

GOOD NEWS ABOUT REdiscount LOANS

We have reached the level of exporting 992 million dollars monthly in defense exports of 248 million dollars annually. We now export in a week what we used to do in a year. We are increasing the daily limit of rediscount loans by 17 times to 5 billion lira.

We are accelerating our customs processes by using all the possibilities of digitalization to facilitate transportation.

Türkiye is not the introverted Turkey of yesterday, it is now a Türkiye that is respected by the great powers in every field.

Hot hours began in politics when it was learned that the ‘bribery’ operations carried out in Seferihisar and Balçova Municipalities extended to CHP Malatya Deputy Veli Ağbaba and that the investigation documents carried out in Izmir were sent to the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office and action was taken to open an investigation against Ağbaba on charges of accepting bribes.

BROTHER DRAWN ATTENTION TO DETAILS

Allegations of money transfers with Veli Ağbaba were brought to the agenda in the investigation, which deepened with the detention of 24 people, including Seferihisar Mayor İsmail Adult and Balçova Mayor Onur Yiğit, in the morning hours of the previous day.

Nermin Özgül

HIS ADVISOR WAS ARRESTED

In the second wave operation carried out in Seferihisar Municipality last week, Ağbaba’s advisor Özlem Akyılmaz was arrested on the charge of mediating the transfer of bribes.

DISMISSED

As the investigation into Ağbaba deepened, Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Cemil Tugay made a much talked about move. Tugay dismissed Private Secretary Nermin Özgül, Veli Ağbaba’s nephew.

BRIGADE WAS APPOINTED

Nermin Özgül, Veli Ağbaba’s niece, was working as Private Secretary in Karabağlar Municipality and was one of the first transfers made by Cemil Tugay after he became the Metropolitan Mayor. Tugay, who took office after the local elections, first appointed Nermin Özgül as his private secretary. Later, in October 2024, Cemil Tugay appointed Esra Huri Bulduk, CHP Islands Mayor candidate, as his private secretary, and gave this duty to Nermin Özgül again as of February 2025.

Veli Ağbaba – Barkın Ulutaş

IT WAS A SUBJECT OF CURIOUSNESS

Now all eyes are on the names appointed to critical positions in the district municipalities from Ağbaba’s quota. It was a matter of curiosity whether district mayors like Tugay would part ways with people close to Ağbaba.

HIS NECEPHE IS IN GAZİEMİR MUNICIPALITY

He first appointed Barkın Ulutaş, Veli Ağbaba’s nephew, whom he always accompanied during the election campaigns in 2024, as the Private Secretary of İzmir Konak Municipality. Due to opposition within the party, Ağbaba transferred his nephew to Gaziemir Municipality this time. Allegations that nephew Ulutaş, who was appointed as private secretary in Gaziemir Municipality, was an ATM, were brought to the agenda in the municipal council in the past months. First, AK Party member Uğur İnan Atmaca and then MHP member Salahattin Şahin asked Gaziemir Mayor Ünal Işık whether Ulutaş had an ATM.

Ministry of National Defense (MSB) Press and Public Relations Advisor and Ministry Spokesperson, Rear Admiral Zeki Aktürk, evaluated the agenda at the weekly information meeting. While Aktürk congratulated the 2235th anniversary of the establishment of the Land Forces Command, he announced the new capabilities that stand out in the defense industry.

TRNC DETERMINATION

Emphasizing that Türkiye’s stance on the solution of the Cyprus issue is clear and unchanged, he said, “Any initiative that ignores the rights of the Turkish Cypriot people and aims to disrupt the current delicate balance on the island is unacceptable for Turkey. The security of the TRNC is the security of Türkiye. We are fully determined to protect the security, peace and welfare of the Turkish Cypriot people today and tomorrow, as it was yesterday. Our country, as the guarantor state, within the framework of its legitimate rights and powers arising from international agreements and international law.” “It will continue to be the guarantor of peace, security and stability in Cyprus.”

On the other hand, another important detail was included in the statement and it was said: “Within the scope of the NATO Permanent Defense Plan, in order to strengthen the air defense of the alliance, a PATRIOT Air Defense System belonging to Germany was deployed to Kürecik / Malatya and took over from the US Patriot Air Defense System stationed in the same region on June 24, 2026.”

PARTICULATED ANTI-DRONE AMMUNITION PASSED THE TEST
It was also noted that the aircraft procurement process, carried out in line with the needs of the AIR forces, continues within the framework of the planned schedule, and the information was shared: “It is aimed to add two C-130J aircraft to the inventory by the end of the year. The deliveries of the remaining aircraft will be carried out gradually within the scope of the determined procurement program.” Aktürk reported that the test firings of the 7.62 millimeter particle anti-drone ammunition, which was developed by MKE and can be used with existing weapon systems and does not require additional platform integration, were successfully completed. The new ammunition, which will increase the air defense capability of personnel against mini and micro unmanned aerial vehicles and kamikaze drones, is expected to make a significant contribution to the effectiveness in the field.

RANGE OVER 500 KM
AKTÜRK also announced that TAYFUN Block-2 Missile, weapon carrier vehicle, Karayel hulled boat system and natural disaster rescue vehicles and materials have been added to the inventory of the Land Forces Command, and the inspection and acceptance activities of these systems have been completed. Developed by ROKETSAN, TAYFUN draws attention with its range of over 500 kilometers, high cruise speed reaching hypersonic levels and high sensitivity.

The judicial process has been completed in the non-pecuniary damages case filed by Minister of Justice Akın Gürlek against CHP Manisa Deputy Özgür Özel, on the grounds that he used expressions targeting him in a speech he made when he was CHP Chairman. In his speech at a rally held in Gaziosmanpaşa, Istanbul, Özel targeted Gürlek and said, “Akin, you hit a hard rock. Keep your wits about you. This will end badly…” In the non-pecuniary damage case filed on the grounds that Gürlek’s personal rights were violated, Istanbul 20th Civil Court of First Instance ruled that Özel pay 150 thousand TL non-pecuniary damages to Gürlek on November 20, 2025. Upon Özel’s objection to the decision, the file was moved to the court of appeal. As a result of the review carried out by the 4th Civil Chamber of the Istanbul Regional Court of Justice, Özel’s appeal application was rejected. Thus, the decision for non-pecuniary damage of 150 thousand TL became final.

WILL DONATE TO RED CRESCENT
It was reported that Minister of Justice Akın Gürlek will donate the moral compensation to be collected from Özel to the Turkish Red Crescent. It was learned that the necessary procedures have been initiated for the execution of the court decision.