Allegations of bribes continue to haunt municipalities run by the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP). The latest investigation targeting corruption focused on the municipality of Ataşehir, an Asian side district of Istanbul, whose mayor was arrested last March on corruption charges.

On Saturday, 20 suspects, including Ataşehir Mayor Onursal Adıgüzel, were detained. A report by the Sabah newspaper says suspects, mostly municipal bureaucrats, accumulated bribes amounting to $7 million. Adıgüzel and others, including his deputy mayors, are accused of collecting bribes from businesspeople seeking to join the municipality’s tenders and those seeking construction and zoning permits.

Police raided 45 locations across Istanbul to detain the suspects in the wake of the investigation, which included reports by the Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK). The reports’ findings pointed out that bribery thrives in granting building permits in particular.

The Sabah report says some municipal bureaucrats collaborated with owners of private companies and the amount of the bribe was determined based on the scale of the projects for which owners sought permits from the municipality. Bribes were reportedly shared among the bureaucrats of the municipality. Adıgüzel and other suspects will be referred to a court and will either be released or remanded in custody then. Adıgüzel and some suspects refused to hand over passwords of their cellphones after their detention, the Sabah report says.

Excerpts in the report, derived from tapped phone conversations, highlight the existence of bribery in exchange for permits. In one conversation between employees of a private company, they claim that the municipality asked for an astronomical amount of money in exchange for a permit, but they later bargained to decrease it to “2 million dollars.” In another conversation between a contractor and a lawyer, the contractor said he was forced to pay $6.5 million to secure a permit for an apartment block and for the construction of a hospital. “I still feel a pain in my chest,” the contractor said as he complained to the lawyer.

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In every corner of the region, Israel’s name formidably looms as a threat. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan pointed out this reality as he attended a news conference on the last day of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in the eponymous Turkish city on Sunday.

“Israel’s expansionism became a global problem,” he said, as he explained how they started it with Gaza. “It is obvious that they have a depopulation policy there, either by killing people or driving them away. The international community utilized all diplomatic tools to prevent it,” he said.

Türkiye mobilized efforts to stop Israel’s genocide in Gaza and joined the international diplomatic blitz to that extent. Nevertheless, Israel, apparently strengthened by inaction in the West and the staunch support from some members of the international community, did not backtrack much, except accepting a cease-fire in Gaza it later violated repeatedly. As the U.S.-Israel-Iran war intensified, Israel shifted its focus to Lebanon again, under the pretext of eliminating Hezbollah. In the worst attacks since the notorious “pager bombings” of 2024, Israel made incursions into Lebanon in indiscriminating attacks against general population. Since last month, more than 2,000 people were killed in Israel’s attacks in Lebanon.

Fidan said Lebanon was once again at the clutches of a ruthless war. “In addition to the Israeli occupation that displaced more than 1 million people, we see Israel is implementing its policy of invasion in Gaza now in Lebanon. This is an occupation that will seriously affect region’s stability. Israel is applying a fait accompli. We will do everything we can to stop this,” he said.

Another source of concern for Türkiye is Israel’s emerging alliance with Greece and the Greek Cypriot administration. The two countries, which had past hostilities with Türkiye and that continue to a degree to this day, signaled expanding defense cooperation with Tel Aviv in a recent trilateral summit. Fidan underlined that Türkiye would not intervene in the cooperation between other countries but expressed Ankara’s anger over Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s remarks during the summit that implied that it was an alliance against Türkiye. Fidan pointed out that the alliance was also one-of-a-kind for Israel in Europe.

The minister said Türkiye was strong enough to defend itself against any threat from the emerging alliance but highlighted that the Muslim countries in the region had concerns about this new alliance. “This is a concern especially for weaker countries,” he highlighted.

He also commented on Türkiye’s cooperation with Pakistan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia and said it was for stability and economic prosperity in the region. He was responding to a question about Israel’s concerns that the alliance may be against Tel Aviv. Representatives of the four countries came together on the margins of the forum, in the third such quadrilateral meeting in recent memory.

“Our objective is to develop a realistic, actionable framework across multiple domains, including economy, technology, health and defense. These four countries represent a broader regional potential. Our assessment is that the region has not fully utilized its cooperation capacity, and we aim to operationalize this untapped potential,” Fidan said. “This is not an alliance against any actor. Unlike other bloc-based approaches, our focus is on conflict resolution, economic advancement and stability. We believe that regional challenges must be addressed through regional ownership rather than external dependency,” he stated.

U.S.-Iran cease-fire

The same quartet has also been active in mediating a cease-fire between the U.S. and Iran. Commenting on the issue, Fidan said Türkiye was giving its “whole support” to negotiations mediated by Pakistan. “The talks are at a critical point and both sides have sincerity and will to continue them. Since the cease-fire, the whole world is relaxed and I know that the sides are aware of it,” he said, noting that he held a meeting with the Pakistani side before the news conference on Sunday. “We hope the sides will prolong the duration of cease-fire thanks to pressure from the international community. An extension is needed. I am optimistic about it. The negotiations, more or less, are complete but there are still disagreements over a few critical matters,” he said.

Fidan stated that the world was in favor of continued negotiations between the U.S. and Iran. “No one wants the war to resume,” he said, pointing out the economic fallout from the war. “It has already inflicted irreparable losses on the budgets of some countries,” he said.

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Communications Director Burhanettin Duran said Türkiye plays a central role as a stabilizing and constructive force in both regional and global affairs, describing the country as a “key to peace.”

“Under the leadership of our President, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, our country stands out not only in its region but also in the world as a constructive and balancing actor, guided by the understanding that Türkiye is the Key to Peace,” he said on his Türkiye-based social media account NSosyal.

“With strong leadership and effective diplomacy, Türkiye continues to be identified in regional crises not with conflict, but with solutions; not with polarization, but with stability. The humanitarian stance displayed in wars and crises on a global scale is the strongest reflection of the diplomacy of compassion, which places our country alongside the oppressed,” he added.

Duran’s post also included a video featuring President Erdoğan’s previous remarks on world peace and his bilateral meetings with various leaders.

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Türkiye’s foreign minister accused Saturday of using security concerns as cover for territorial expansion, in the latest flare-up in escalating tensions between the two regional powers.

Israel and Türkiye have been trading near-daily diplomatic barbs over a range of regional conflicts, from Israel’s war on Gaza to rising tensions linked to Iran.

“Israel is not after its own security. Israel is after more land,” Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in the Mediterranean resort city.

“Security is being used by the Netanyahu government as an excuse to occupy more land,” he added, referring to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Speaking in English at a panel discussion, Fidan said Israel had created an “illusion” internationally by portraying itself as acting purely in its own defense.

“It has become very clear, especially in recent years, that it is more than that,” he said.

From Palestinian lands including Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem, and now extending towards Lebanon and Syria, Israel was pursuing “an onward occupation and expansionism in the region,” Fidan said.

“I think this has to stop.”

“Israel has to know that the only way to live peacefully in the region is to let other countries enjoy their own security, territorial integrity and freedom, and not to use power against them,” he added.

Türkiye and Israel have frequently been at odds, including over Israel’s military campaign in Gaza that have killed over 73,000 Palestinians and differences over Syria’s future.

Relations were severely strained in 2010 when Israeli forces raided a flotilla of ships attempting to breach Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza, killing nine Turkish activists and one U.S. national. The flotilla was co-organised by a Turkish aid group.

‘Move back to Russia-Ukraine talks’

Fidan on Friday met the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Egypt for talks on regional issues, including the Middle East conflict, on the sidelines of the forum.

Asked about the discussions, Fidan said regional countries needed to come together to address shared challenges.

“It is time for all of us to come together in a very mature way and own our problems,” he said, again singling out Israel as the only country seeking territorial gains.

Commenting on Türkiye’s quiet diplomacy over the Russia-Ukraine war, Fidan said those efforts had been overshadowed by tensions involving Iran.

“That has left the Russia-Ukraine war on the side,” he said.

He added that attention should shift back to Ukraine talks once tensions with Iran eased, warning that the conflict remained open to escalation.

Türkiye, which has hosted several rounds of Russia-Ukraine negotiations, is also hosting Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha at separate panels during the Antalya Diplomacy Forum.

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President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Friday urged the sides in the Iran war to seize the two-week cease-fire as an opportunity to secure lasting peace.

“I believe the window of opportunity opened by the cease-fire should be used in the most effective way to establish lasting peace,” Erdoğan said at the opening of the three-day Antalya Diplomacy Forum at the Mediterranean resort.

“No matter how deep the disagreements may be, we must not allow words to be replaced again by weapons,” he said, adding that, “The shortcut to peace is constructive dialogue and diplomacy.”

The foreign ministers of Türkiye, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Egypt were due to meet later on Friday on the sidelines of the forum, with the war and the blockade of the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz expected to dominate discussions.

Erdoğan was due to meet with Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif on the margins later Friday.

Türkiye, a vocal critic of Israel, has joined diplomatic efforts with Egypt and Pakistan to help secure a cease-fire in the conflict, while maintaining that the truce should also apply to Lebanon.

Erdoğan did not comment directly on the latest cease-fire reached between Israel and Lebanon but warned against attempts to derail talks.

“We must be prepared and vigilant against Israel’s attempts to dynamite the negotiation process,” he said.

Turning to the Strait of Hormuz, Erdoğan said access to the waterway must not be restricted.

“One side of Hormuz is Iran, while the other side is Oman. The right of Gulf countries to access open seas must not be restricted,” he told the forum, calling for freedom of navigation “based on established rules” and for the strait to remain open to commercial vessels.

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, who spoke ahead of Erdoğan, warned against Israel’s expansionist policies. He was scheduled to meet his counterparts from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Egypt on the margins of the forum.

Ukraine, Syria

Erdoğan also addressed the Russia-Ukraine war, saying Türkiye is ready to host negotiations and a ⁠possible ‌leaders’ ‌summit for ⁠a ‌lasting peace in Eastern ⁠Europe.

On Syria, Erdoğan lauded Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s efforts to restore peace and stability in Syria following the ouster of Bashar Assad in December 2024 and reiterated Ankara’s support to Damascus and the Syrian people.

He also pointed to Türkiye’s engagement in Syria, the Balkans and the Caucasus, emphasizing efforts to promote stability, normalization and economic cooperation across neighboring regions.

‘Path to peace is diplomacy’

Erdoğan said diplomacy must be understood not only as a tool for resolving conflicts but as a broader platform for shaping humanity’s shared future, describing the Antalya Diplomacy Forum as a hub for “global reason and conscience.”

He argued that today’s challenges reflect a deeper crisis of values and legitimacy in the international system, criticizing what he called selective justice and ineffective global institutions, particularly in the face of humanitarian crises such as Gaza.

Erdoğan urged reforms to make global governance more representative and credible, while emphasizing dialogue as the only viable path to lasting peace.

He also stressed the need to prevent escalation, support cease-fire efforts, safeguard freedom of navigation in key waterways like the Strait of Hormuz, and expand cooperation on energy and connectivity.

East Med, Cyprus, Greece

Erdoğan reiterated Türkiye’s position on the Eastern Mediterranean, calling for inclusive approaches and rejecting unilateral actions that exclude Turkish interests. He said improved relations with Greece should contribute to broader regional stability and respect for minority rights.

Türkiye will continue supporting peace and stability in Libya and across Africa, Erdoğan said, adding that Ankara backs diplomatic efforts to resolve conflicts such as the crisis in Sudan and supports Somalia’s development and security.

NATO summit, COP31

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Türkiye will host a NATO leaders’ summit in Ankara later this year, reaffirming its role in Euro-Atlantic security, while reiterating its goal of EU membership.

He also announced that Antalya will host the U.N. COP31 climate conference, emphasizing youth-focused sustainability efforts, and concluded by calling for greater global solidarity to build a more just and inclusive international order.

More than 150 countries are represented at the event, including over 20 heads of state and government and nearly 15 deputy leaders. The forum also brings together more than 50 ministers, over 40 of them foreign ministers, as well as representatives from 75 international organizations.

In total, more than 460 high-level participants and nearly 5,000 attendees, including academics and students, are expected to take part.

Participants from Africa and Europe make up nearly half of the attending heads of state, while foreign ministers are expected to join mainly from Africa (around 40%), Europe (35%) and Asia (22%).

The forum features more than 40 panels and events, including leadership-level discussions addressing political, economic, environmental and technological challenges, with a particular focus on the evolving global landscape.

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The 5th Antalya Diplomacy Forum opened in Türkiye on Friday, gathering global leaders and top officials to discuss rising international challenges and uncertainties, including the Middle East war.

Held under the auspices of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and hosted by the Turkish Foreign Ministry, the three-day forum is taking place in the southern Mediterranean city of Antalya under the theme “Mapping Tomorrow, Managing Uncertainties.”

The high-stakes forum is also bringing together the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

Pakistan’s powerful army chief met senior negotiators in Tehran on Thursday as Washington and Iran considered a fresh round of talks to end the six-week war.

The foreign ministers of Türkiye, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Egypt are to meet on the sidelines of the forum, with the war and the blockade of the crucial Strait of Hormuz expected to dominate. The timing of the meeting has not yet been announced.

Pakistan has positioned itself as a key mediator in regional diplomacy, having hosted rare talks between Iran and the U.S. last weekend, which ended inconclusively.

“We are making the necessary efforts to reduce tensions, extend the cease-fire and continue the negotiations,” Erdogan said in an address to his ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) in Parliament this week.

“Negotiations cannot take place with clenched fists. Weapons must not be allowed to speak again instead of words. The window of opportunity opened by the cease-fire must be fully utilized.”

The White House has said further talks with Iran would “very likely” be in Islamabad, where Vice President JD Vance led the U.S. delegation in the last round of negotiations.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, who met Qatar’s ruler in Doha on Thursday as part of a regional tour, will also join the forum and meet Erdoğan on its margins, as Islamabad pushes for a U.S.-Iran second round.

“We will continue to provide all the support we can to ensure that the ongoing temporary cease-fire turns into a permanent one,” a Turkish Defense Ministry source said on Thursday.

“We hope that this war, whose effects are being felt increasingly not only regionally but also globally, will come to an end as soon as possible, and that the parties will act constructively in the ongoing negotiation process,” the source said.

Türkiye, while a vocal critic of Israel, has joined diplomatic efforts with Egypt and Pakistan to help reach a cease-fire in the conflict.

Ankara has said the Middle East cease-fire should include Lebanon, which is facing Israeli attacks.

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Monday that the strategic Strait of Hormuz should be reopened “as soon as possible” while warning that its status would remain a key point of contention.

He described the waterway as an “international free passage zone,” adding that any disruption to freedom of navigation is not something parties want to see.”

More than 150 countries are expected to take part in the Antalya gathering, including more than 20 heads of state and government.

Among the participants are Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

More than 150 countries are represented at the event, including over 20 heads of state and government and nearly 15 deputy leaders. The forum also brings together more than 50 ministers – over 40 of them foreign ministers – as well as representatives from 75 international organizations.

In total, more than 460 high-level participants and nearly 5,000 attendees, including academics and students, are expected to take part.

Participants from Africa and Europe make up nearly half of the attending heads of state, while foreign ministers are expected to join mainly from Africa (around 40%), Europe (35%) and Asia (22%).

The forum features more than 40 panels and events, including leadership-level discussions addressing political, economic, environmental and technological challenges, with a particular focus on the evolving global landscape.

Sessions are being streamed live on the forum’s official website and social media platforms, with several also broadcast by Türkiye’s public broadcaster TRT.

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