The third of the “Türkiye’s Gastrodiplomacy Model: Table and Heritage” program organized by the Presidency’s Directorate of Communications started in Afyonkarahisar. In her video message to the program, President Erdoğan’s wife, Emine Erdoğan, emphasized that Turkish cuisine is one of the oldest archives of history, a vast ocean of culture and the memory of civilization. Pointing out that this great heritage, whose doors opened from Turkestan, took root in Anatolia and spread to every corner of the Ottoman geography for centuries, Erdoğan said:

“During this historical journey, different cultures came into contact with each other, fed on each other and turned into a unique gastronomy heritage that deepened layer by layer. Boiling pots also produced a civilization language that strengthens intercultural dialogue along with food. People from different religions, languages ​​and identities became next-door neighbors in the peace geography of Anatolia, and tables became places of love, respect and reverence. Thus, the spirit of brotherhood was experienced as a fifth season in Anatolia.”

Businessman Turgut Koç, known for his closeness to Özgür Özel and Veli Ağbaba, was arrested last month in a drug and prostitution investigation. It was revealed that Koç gave a new statement to the prosecutor’s office within the scope of the CHP 38th Ordinary Congress investigation carried out by the Organized Crimes Investigation Bureau of the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office. According to the findings in the investigation file, a new detail was found in the examination of Turgut Koç’s phone. It was determined that there was a photo of the video call held by Koç on January 18, 2024. It was determined that the photo in question included bundles of dollars and euros. This detection was recorded as an important finding regarding the connection to money traffic in the file.

In Turgut Koç’s new statement at the courthouse yesterday, he was asked about his photographs and WhatsApp correspondence dated April 14, 2026. In the correspondence in question, it was determined that Veli Ağbaba said, “If you have any problems, write to me” at 19.28, and Koç replied, “No, no problem, I will be there on Thursday.” Koç was also asked about the correspondence in which Ağbaba said, “If there is a problem, write it down, for sure?” In his statement regarding this correspondence, Koç said, “Veli Ağbaba called me to Ankara. He asked if I had 500 thousand TL, and I told him that I would definitely give it to him. However, I could not give the money and I could not go to Ankara. In the call on April 16, 2026, we talked for a minute via WhatsApp. During this meeting, he asked where I was and whether I could come. I said that I could not come right now.”

One of the biggest problems of European countries in recent times is the disappointments in jointly carried out defense industry projects… Countries that want to avoid the US F-35 in their air forces have very few alternatives. Türkiye, the only NATO member other than the USA to bring a new generation warplane to the skies, is one of the strongest candidates for a solution. First Russia-Ukraine, then the US and Israel’s attacks on Iran… And finally the ‘great war’ scenarios that are now more strongly voiced… Germany and France canceled the new generation fighter jet program they were carrying out together. Again, the purchase of warships worth approximately 9 billion euros, which the Germans will procure from the Netherlands for their navy, did not reach a happy ending despite the passing years and all the money spent. Time is needed to produce a new generation warplane. However, in a war that is just around the corner, waiting that long means taking on serious risks. There are only two countries within NATO that can bring the 5th generation warplane to the skies: the USA and Türkiye. It is no secret that Europeans are hesitant about relations with the USA, especially during Trump’s second term. In addition, the operating costs of the F-35s were much higher than expected and the problems experienced in updates raised serious question marks for everyone. Countries such as Spain and Switzerland canceled their F-35 purchase decisions. Many European countries also chose not to enlarge their fleet.

THE MOST IMPORTANT PLAYER OF HIS CLASS
Türkiye, on the other hand, developed the National Combat Aircraft KAAN with its own means and brought it to the skies. 2030 and beyond are pointed out for KAAN, which is considered one of the most important players in its class with its capabilities, to be fully operational. If an EU or NATO member country wants to equip KAAN with its own sensors, radars or other subsystems, Türkiye can quickly adapt to this. AA

HÜRJET MODEL WILL BE APPLIED
HÜRJET, which will be equipped with Spain’s unique systems, will quickly be able to enter the inventory of the Spanish Air Force. If a similar road map is followed for KAAN, European countries can have a very powerful intermediate formula in this new period for which they are extremely unprepared. When we put all these together, it will not be a surprise that KAAN will be one of the most important issues on the leaders’ table at the NATO Summit to be hosted by Ankara on July 7-8.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan spoke at the dinner he hosted at Dolmabahçe Palace in honor of the parliamentarians, parliamentarians and representatives of international organizations who were in Istanbul for the NATO Parliamentary Summit: I believe that the NATO Parliamentary Summit has a special meaning before the NATO Summit that we will hold in Ankara on 7-8 July. Euro-Atlantic Security is going through a historical turning point. Threats such as war, crisis, terrorism and irregular migration, especially on the eastern and southeastern borders of our alliance, require us to reshape our understanding of security. The massacres we have witnessed recently, especially those in Gaza and Lebanon, have caused deep wounds in the conscience of humanity, while at the same time they have destroyed the reputation of international institutions and institutions. The current geopolitical equation has increased the importance of NATO’s role. As Türkiye, we are one of the countries that best understand the spirit of the new era.

Türkiye is one of the allies that has been contributing to NATO’s security for more than 70 years with its strong army, modern military capabilities and advanced defense industry. We take an active part in NATO missions and support the maintenance of peace and stability. We share both our exceptional ability in managing regional crises and our vast experience within NATO with our allies. Türkiye, with its history, social structure and geostrategic location, is a strong country with experience in providing simultaneous communication with a wide geography stretching from Europe to Asia and from the Balkans to Africa. We wish to use this potential to the maximum extent for regional peace and world peace.

Our main expectation from the NATO Summit is to achieve results that take into account the national security sensitivities of the allies and strengthen the alliance solidarity and spirit of unity. As the leader of a country that has successfully fought against terrorism for many years and is now working to end terrorism completely, I would like to express that we have high expectations from the alliance in this field.

If we want to meet the challenges we face, we must share the burden among allies in a balanced and fair manner. We are doing our part in sharing the burden, and we will continue to do so.

Excluding Türkiye’s defense capacity due to narrow political interests does no one any good. At this point, we must create an alliance-wide security and defense network stretching from Texas to Ankara, without any buts or buts.

At the NATO Defense Industry Forum, which we will organize within the scope of the NATO Summit, our allies and guests will see the significant progress that Türkiye has made in the field of defense industry in a short time.

NATO PA PRESIDENT PERESTRELLO: WE THANK Türkiye
NATO Parliamentary Assembly (NATO PA) President Marcos Perestrello: I would like to thank the Turkish authorities for hosting this organization. It is a great pleasure to be with you in this beautiful city that brings our alliance together.

WE HAVE TO FIGHT FOR A FAIR SYSTEM
Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, Numan Kurtulmuş, spoke at the NATO Parliamentary Summit: We have to continue our struggle together to establish a new global system that is fair and equitable on earth, based on the principle of equality of all people in creation and equality of sovereignty of all countries.

Breaking news: President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will lead the Cabinet Meeting at Beştepe Presidential Complex.

The NATO Leaders Summit to be held on July 7-8 will be the priority agenda of the cabinet.

The final preparations will be reviewed before the summit, which will be held with the participation of 32 alliance members, as well as governments and heads of state from many countries. An evaluation will be made regarding additional security measures to be taken.

All eyes will be on the meeting between President Erdoğan and Trump, which will take place in Beştepe on the margins of the NATO Summit. Relations between the two countries and cooperation in different fields, especially the defense industry, will be discussed.

Developments in the Middle East and peace diplomacy will be discussed. Preparations for the historic meeting that will open the doors of a new era on the Ankara-Washington line will be reviewed.

TERROROR-FREE Türkiye IS ON THE AGENDA OF THE CABINET

Another prominent topic at the Cabinet Meeting will be Türkiye Without Terrorism.

The latest situation in the field during the disarmament and disbandment process of the terrorist organization PKK will be discussed within the framework of intelligence data.

The progress reached in legal regulation studies will be evaluated.

Developments in the economy are also among the issues on the agenda.

At the Cabinet Meeting, the increases in the salaries of public servants, civil servants and pensions in July, as well as the steps taken to combat inflation will also be discussed.

Ersin Tatar, the 5th President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), attended the conference titled “Turkish Presence in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Strategic Importance of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus” held at the Yalova Chamber of Commerce and Industry (YTSO) Conference Hall.

In his speech here, Tatar said that there has been a search for a solution on the basis of federation in Cyprus for about 60 years.

“A NEW ERA HAS STARTED WITH Türkiye”

Stating that a new era began in their struggle when Türkiye set foot on the island, Tatar said, “In 1983, with the declaration of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus by the Founding President Rauf Denktaş, it was shown to the whole world that a single state approach in Cyprus was not possible. However, under the conditions of that period, the search for partnership with a federal solution approach continued. Time was spent in all kinds of negotiations for an agreement on a federal basis for more than 60 years. However, in the end, the Greek Cypriots never showed good will and rejected all proposals.” he said.

Tatar continued by explaining that although 15 different proposals were brought to the table, the processes remained inconclusive due to the attitude of the Greek side:

“In the last Annan Plan, about 20 years ago, we Turks said ‘yes’ and the Greeks said ‘no’. Despite this, they accepted the Greek side into the European Union. In other words, the side that said ‘no’ to the Annan Plan was rewarded with European Union membership. This made the solution of the Cyprus issue even more difficult. Because they are now in the European Union. Greece is also in the European Union. The meeting held in Crans-Montana, Switzerland in 2017 “There were no results in the negotiations. The solution model based on the Federation is now behind us. That is why we defend the two-state policy and continue to explain this policy on international platforms.”

“TOGETHER WITH Türkiye, WE PROTECT OUR RIGHTS, LAW AND OUR HONOR IN THIS REGION”

Referring to the importance of the Turkish Cypriot people continuing to exist as a separate state and a separate sovereign people, Tatar stated that the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is not just about the 3,800 square kilometers of land in the north.

Emphasizing that the country also has a large area of ​​sovereignty with its maritime jurisdiction areas, continental shelf, territorial waters and exclusive economic zone, Tatar said:

“Together with Turkey, we protect our rights, law and honor in this region. We are taking strong steps towards the future with the understanding of motherland, daughter homeland, Blue Homeland and sky homeland. The Republic of Turkey is my homeland. It is the most powerful country in the Eastern Mediterranean, the Blue Homeland. It is the guarantor state. The Republic of Turkey will protect its historical rights, law and all the opportunities it has until the end. There is only one truth. All these are temporary. The important thing is, as Rauf Denktaş said. Sovereignty is title. State means the future. State means security, peace, peace and stability. The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus may not be recognized today, but it is our flag, our homeland, our history and our spirituality. It suits.”

The program was attended by Yalova Governor Dr. Ahmet Hamdi Usta, Yalova Mayor Mehmet Gürel, Yalova Karamürselbey Training Center Garrison Commander Rear Admiral Mehmet Tahir Göncüoğlu, Yalova University Rector Prof. Dr. Mehmet Bahçekapılı, YTSO Chairman of the Board Cemil Demiryürek, AK Party Provincial Chairman Umut Güçlü, political party and NGO representatives and citizens attended.