Türkiye’s oldest party will soon produce its newest. The “New Party,” as it has been tentatively dubbed by media outlets close to the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), is expected to be unveiled this week by Özgür Özel, who lost his seat at the helm of the CHP to his predecessor, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, in May. Prior to the announcement, lawmakers are calculating their political futures, with some undecided about whether to stay in the CHP or join Özel in the new party.

Since Kılıçdaroğlu retook the reins, he has worked to boost his support within the party, but Özel, who has been reduced to the post of parliamentary group chair, has long resisted the idea of leaving. The Özel camp believes he is the CHP’s only chance of winning the next presidential election, but the growing rift within the party is further diminishing that chance.

Özel is working to convince as many lawmakers as possible to join the new party, but some lawmakers are reportedly unwilling to leave the CHP. According to a report by the Sabah newspaper, they include lawmakers who earlier issued messages of support for Özel’s struggle to reclaim his chairmanship after a court ruled that his chairmanship was null and void over allegations of vote-buying in a 2023 election that brought him to power.

Kılıçdaroğlu was flatly branded a “traitor” by Özel’s supporters, while Özel himself did not spare his predecessor criticism as he toured Türkiye to garner support for his cause. The Özel camp commands a stronger presence on social media, and some lawmakers are afraid of reprisals from other CHP members if they choose to remain under the Kılıçdaroğlu administration, party sources told Sabah. This has been the case on social media for prominent party figures who openly supported Kılıçdaroğlu. The online lynch mob was quick to highlight past mistakes in both their political and private lives when they pledged allegiance to Kılıçdaroğlu. Indeed, Kılıçdaroğlu himself was the subject of a hostile campaign, particularly by those who had fanatically supported him in the 2023 presidential race against incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

Party sources say many lawmakers who make public appearances with Özel have expressed their intention to stay in the CHP and claim that no more than 60 lawmakers will leave to join Özel’s new party. Most of them, they say, would be figures who joined the CHP in recent years.

The Özel camp, nevertheless, claims that at least 80 lawmakers would join the new party. Özel will need at least 68 lawmakers to make his new party the main opposition party. Thus, Kılıçdaroğlu’s CHP would be reduced to 67 seats in Parliament and drop to the rank of the third-largest party. Party sources say Özel has had to wait for the inauguration of the new party because he has still been unable to reach this number.

Skepticism among CHP lawmakers over Özel’s new party is also tied to the “Imamoğlu factor.” Most CHP figures are unwilling to join a new party under the influence of former Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoğlu, who is currently imprisoned on corruption charges. Imamoğlu is an influential figure in the party and was declared its presidential candidate after his arrest in March 2025. Since then, he has secretly run the party’s affairs from behind bars, according to media reports. Özel is deeply committed to Imamoğlu’s cause, while Kılıçdaroğlu has not been on very good terms with the former mayor, who was caught red-handed secretly garnering support for Özel before the latter competed against Kılıçdaroğlu in the 2023 intra-party vote.

Imamoğlu represents a new trend in the party, whose past image has been stained by successive defeats at the hands of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party), and is viewed as a savior figure for the CHP. He leans more toward the center-right compared with Kılıçdaroğlu’s “old-school” social democrats and Özel’s volatile mix of political ideologies, which seeks to draw from the playbook of the all-embracing AK Party.

Apart from undecided lawmakers, another risk awaiting Özel is the potential loss of his parliamentary immunity. Currently, Özel has 61 outstanding cases before Parliament that could lead to the lifting of his immunity. A parliamentary committee will continue working through the summer, although other committees have gone into recess, and will focus on immunity cases. A report by Sabah says at least 25 lawmakers siding with Kılıçdaroğlu would vote in favor of lifting Özel’s immunity if the parliamentary committee put the issue to a vote. The Sabah report says this number could increase to 35 in the coming days.

Kılıçdaroğlu has been an avid supporter of lifting lawmakers’ immunity, something he highlighted in an interview last month. Party sources told Sabah that Özel and other lawmakers should not be afraid of losing their immunity if they are not guilty of anything and that, on the contrary, this may be their chance to clear their names.

The Daily Sabah Newsletter

Keep up to date with what’s happening in Turkey,
it’s region and the world.

SIGN ME UP

You can unsubscribe at any time. By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Ankara on Friday criticized the European Union over a policy document released earlier this week, saying its references to the country ignored Türkiye’s status as an EU candidate and failed to reflect its strategic role in European security.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Öncü Keçeli said the EU’s “Common Understanding” document, published on July 15, lacked “a strategic and fair approach” toward Türkiye.

“The document ignores Türkiye’s candidate status and demonstrates the EU’s inability to develop a shared vision for the future with our country,” Keçeli noted in a statement posted on social media.

Keçeli underlined that the document was issued shortly after the NATO summit in Ankara, where allies reaffirmed Türkiye’s role in Euro-Atlantic security.

“It is evident that the document was drafted in a tone that seeks to overshadow this reality,” he said, referring to Türkiye’s indispensable role within NATO as allies assume greater responsibilities under the alliance.

The spokesperson also rejected references in the document to the Eastern Mediterranean, saying they reflected what he described as the EU’s “biased and distorted understanding” of regional issues.

On Cyprus, Keçeli said responsibility for the failure of reunification efforts rested with the Greek Cypriot side, citing its rejection of the U.N.-backed Annan Plan in 2004 and its uncompromising position during the 2017 Cyprus Conference.

He called on the EU to adopt “a realistic vision and discourse that serves the interests of both sides.”

Communications Director Burhanettin Duran also criticized the EU document, saying its assessments of Türkiye lacked objectivity and strategic foresight.

In a separate statement, Duran said the document overlooked Türkiye’s candidate status and ignored the country’s contribution to European security despite clear recognition of its role during the NATO summit in Ankara.

He also rejected the document’s references to the Eastern Mediterranean and Cyprus, arguing that they did not reflect international law or historical realities.

Duran called on the EU to adopt a more responsible approach based on mutual respect, impartiality and shared interests, saying such an approach would better serve efforts to strengthen dialogue between the two sides.

The Daily Sabah Newsletter

Keep up to date with what’s happening in Turkey,
it’s region and the world.

SIGN ME UP

You can unsubscribe at any time. By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Türkiye’s National Defense Ministry on Friday released a video highlighting killings committed against Turkish Cypriots by the Greek Cypriot terrorist group, EOKA, saying the attacks would not be forgotten.

In a statement shared on social media, the ministry said it would continue publishing videos documenting what it described as atrocities committed by EOKA against Turkish Cypriots.

The ministry said the second installment of the video series includes testimony from a former EOKA member describing attacks on Turkish Cypriots.

“We continue to remind the world of the inhumane massacres committed by the Greek Cypriot terrorist group EOKA against Turkish Cypriots,” the ministry said.

“We have not forgotten and will not forget the bloody legacy of EOKA or those who supported these atrocities.”

The videos were released ahead of the anniversary of Türkiye’s 1974 Peace Operation in Cyprus on July 20.

Founded by Georgios Grivas in 1954, EOKA staged its first terror attack a year later, though its primary objective was to fight against the British occupiers of the island in the Eastern Mediterranean.

The terrorist group began committing more terror attacks and massacres against Turkish Cypriots in 1958, in line with its goals of clearing the island of Turks and uniting it with Greece.

During EOKA’s terror campaign of the 1963 Christmas season, 374 Turkish Cypriots were killed, 109 Turkish villages were forced to evacuate, over 2,500 Turkish houses were severely damaged or demolished, and between 25,000 and 30,000 Turkish Cypriots became refugees, according to a U.N. report released on Sept. 10, 1964.

Between 1963 and 1974, over 100 Turkish villages were attacked. In Taşkent (Tochni), 85 men and boys were executed and dumped in unmarked pits. In Muratağa (Maratha), Sandallar (Santalaris) and Atlılar (Aloda), 126 women, children and elderly were massacred.

The Daily Sabah Newsletter

Keep up to date with what’s happening in Turkey,
it’s region and the world.

SIGN ME UP

You can unsubscribe at any time. By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Friday that Türkiye is prepared to support any initiative that could bring Russia and Ukraine back to the negotiating table, reaffirming Ankara’s long-standing role as a potential mediator as he concluded an official visit to Kyiv.

In a statement posted on social media following meetings with Ukrainian leaders, Fidan said his visit had further strengthened the strategic partnership between Türkiye and Ukraine and underscored Ankara’s commitment to supporting efforts aimed at achieving a lasting peace.

“We are ready to support any initiative that will bring the parties back to the negotiating table and contribute to a permanent peace,” he noted, reiterating Türkiye’s position that the more than four-year war should be resolved through diplomacy.

During his visit, Fidan held talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and senior presidential officials. According to the Turkish Foreign Ministry, the meetings focused on bilateral relations, regional developments and the latest situation in the Russia-Ukraine war.

Fidan said Türkiye welcomed the continued expansion of cooperation with Ukraine despite the ongoing conflict, describing the visit as “highly productive” and thanking Ukrainian officials for their hospitality.

The visit came shortly after Ukraine’s Parliament ratified the Türkiye-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement, a development Fidan described as a milestone in economic relations between the two countries.

“The Free Trade Agreement will create new opportunities for our business communities and elevate our economic partnership to a much higher level,” he said.

Türkiye has maintained close ties with both Kyiv and Moscow since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. While supplying military equipment to Ukraine and backing its territorial integrity, Ankara has also preserved diplomatic and economic relations with Russia, positioning itself as one of the few NATO members able to maintain dialogue with both sides.

Turkish officials have repeatedly offered to host renewed peace negotiations, following earlier rounds of talks held in Türkiye during the initial months of the war. Ankara has also played a central role in previous diplomatic initiatives, including efforts that led to the Black Sea grain export arrangement.

Fidan reaffirmed Türkiye’s support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity during his meetings in Kyiv, according to the ministry.

The foreign minister also met with Crimean Tatar leaders Mustafa Abdulcemil Kırımoğlu and Refat Chubarov, discussing the situation of the Indigenous Tatar Muslim community in Russian-annexed Crimea.

“The protection of the rights of the Crimean Tatars and the preservation of their cultural identity will always remain a priority for Türkiye,” Fidan emphasized.

During the visit, Zelenskyy awarded Fidan the Ukrainian Order of Merit, Second Class, recognizing what Ukrainian authorities described as his contribution to strengthening bilateral cooperation and Türkiye’s support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The Ukrainian Presidential Office said the decoration acknowledged Fidan’s efforts to deepen cooperation between the two countries and his role in supporting Ukraine on the international stage.

In a statement released after the meeting, Zelenskyy thanked both Türkiye and Fidan for their efforts to advance peace.

“I met with Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and presented him with the Ukrainian Order of Merit, Second Class. I thank Türkiye and Mr. Fidan for their efforts to achieve peace,” Zelenskyy wrote on social media.

The Ukrainian president said he briefed Fidan on the latest battlefield developments and discussed diplomatic efforts that could help revive momentum toward a negotiated settlement.

“Today we discussed the diplomatic process and steps that could reinvigorate efforts to achieve peace,” Zelenskyy said. “I informed him about the current situation on the front line, while Mr. Fidan shared his assessment of diplomatic contacts conducted at different levels.”

Fidan said Türkiye would continue strengthening its strategic partnership and longstanding friendship with Ukraine in line with the vision of the two countries’ presidents, emphasizing that cooperation would remain based on mutual trust and shared interests while Ankara continued to support initiatives aimed at securing a lasting peace.

The Daily Sabah Newsletter

Keep up to date with what’s happening in Turkey,
it’s region and the world.

SIGN ME UP

You can unsubscribe at any time. By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Five of 11 foreign nationals detained in a counterterrorism operation targeting the Daesh terrorist group across eight provinces centered in central Türkiye’s Nevşehir province have been arrested, authorities said Friday.

According to a statement from the Nevşehir Provincial Police Department, the operation was carried out under the coordination of the Nevşehir Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office as part of an investigation aimed at preventing and uncovering the activities of Daesh.

Counterterrorism police simultaneously raided addresses in the provinces of Adana, Mersin, Konya, Bursa, Samsun, Bolu and Karabük to apprehend the 11 suspects, all of whom were identified as foreign nationals.

The suspects were taken into custody and transferred to Nevşehir, where they underwent police questioning before being referred to prosecutors.

A court ordered the arrest of five suspects, identified by the initials A.H., M.M., E.E., E.A. and I.M. The remaining six were handed over to the Provincial Directorate of Migration Management for deportation proceedings.

Türkiye has conducted sustained counterterrorism operations against Daesh for years, targeting the group’s members, facilitators and financial networks both domestically and across its borders. Turkish security forces regularly carry out nationwide raids to prevent attacks and dismantle the organization’s presence in the country.

The Daily Sabah Newsletter

Keep up to date with what’s happening in Turkey,
it’s region and the world.

SIGN ME UP

You can unsubscribe at any time. By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Speaking at a joint news conference with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha in Kyiv on Thursday, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan expressed concerns about the state of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

He warned that the diplomacy was lagging while the conflict continued to escalate. He said Türkiye would continue its political and military support for Ukraine. Fidan also called on the sides to ensure maritime security in the Black Sea and suggested that a moratorium be declared on attacks across the sea, to that extent.

Answering a question, Fidan said Russia was also ready for negotiations with Ukraine, as he observed in his recent visit to Russia.

The minister noted that the spillover of the Russia-Ukraine conflict into the Black Sea was “not desired.”

“It is inexcusable to target Black Sea ports, tankers, fishing boats and risk civilian lives,” he said.

Fidan noted that it was crucial to keep the peace in the Black Sea and urged both sides to act responsibly, “with common sense.” The minister stated that Ankara is searching for new strategies to end the vicious cycle regarding the conflict and that there were “new ideas” brought up in their talks with the sides.

He noted that the “Istanbul format” of peace negotiations should continue, referring to Türkiye’s hosting of multiple talks between the sides. He noted that this format brought together officials from both sides who were specialized in different aspects of negotiations and was transparent.

“Just because the conflict continues, it does not mean that this format should be suspended,” he said. The minister noted that U.S. negotiators also stepped in after the Istanbul talks and that they were working to find a lasting solution to the conflict.

“Unfortunately, right now, the conflict is underway with the risk of escalation,” he added.

He stated that one of the most vital legs of a possible peace deal between the sides was security guarantees for Ukraine, including land, maritime and air components. He said Türkiye agreed to lead the maritime component of the guarantees and that they were on the same page with their allies on this matter.

Fidan arrived in Ukraine on Wednesday after a long train trip from Poland and was scheduled to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday. The trip marks Fidan’s first visit to Ukraine since May 2025, while the latest ministerial-level visit from Ukraine to Türkiye took place during the NATO summit hosted in Ankara earlier this month. Zelenskyy was among the guests of the summit, where his efforts to rally the international community for more military support paid off, as the summit’s declaration pledged sustainable support to Kyiv against Russia.

“At the NATO summit, the allies delivered strong messages reaffirming their continued support for Ukraine. Since the first day of the war, Türkiye has provided both political and military support to Ukraine. As our president stated during the NATO leaders’ session, we will continue contributing to the list of Ukraine’s prioritized needs. Following the summit, earlier this week, I attended the Coalition of the Willing Leaders’ Summit in Paris on behalf of our president. There, we had the opportunity to discuss various aspects of our support for Ukraine with our counterparts,” Fidan said.

Referring to the devastation and consequences of the war, Fidan said, “While witnessing the destruction and suffering caused by the war, we also observe with appreciation the resilience and solidarity demonstrated by the Ukrainian people.” He added that Türkiye’s greatest wish as a nation is for this suffering to end as soon as possible, and reaffirmed Türkiye’s support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity, independence and sovereignty.

Fidan recalled that Türkiye has maintained direct contact with both sides since the beginning of the war, adding that during his visit to Moscow in June, he once again conveyed Türkiye’s call for the war to be brought to an end as soon as possible through peaceful means.

“In the coming period, we will continue and intensify our direct diplomatic efforts, including hosting negotiations once again if necessary,” Fidan said.

He added that bilateral relations between Türkiye and Ukraine continue to deepen and that Turkish companies have maintained their operations in Ukraine despite the ongoing war. Fidan expressed confidence that Turkish companies would continue contributing to Ukraine’s reconstruction, recovery, and economic development in the post-war period. He welcomed the Ukrainian Parliament’s ratification of the free trade agreement signed between Türkiye and Ukraine in 2022, which occurred one day before his visit, expressing great satisfaction that the agreement would now enter into force. He also thanked his Ukrainian counterpart for his efforts. Fidan stated that the agreement would significantly advance the already dynamic trade partnership between the two countries. He said that after the war, Türkiye-Ukraine economic relations would reach a strategic level, creating major opportunities not only for bilateral trade but also for regional and broader international trade through enhanced connectivity.

Fidan also emphasized that the Crimean Tatars occupy a special place in bilateral relations, stating: “We have maintained our principled position regarding the illegal annexation of Crimea from the very beginning and continue to closely monitor developments in the region. On this occasion, I would like to reaffirm once again that Türkiye will always stand by our Crimean Tatar kin.”

‘No winner in war’

Responding to questions from journalists, Fidan said that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan approaches the issue of ending the Russia-Ukraine war with the principle that, “There is no winner in war, and no loser in peace.” He stated that Ukraine’s territorial integrity remains under guarantee and that Ukraine’s legitimate resistance has taken the war to another level.

“There is no explanation for a conventional war continuing in Europe for five years in the 21st century, becoming increasingly destructive. It is also a war that carries a growing risk of spreading. Geographically, it is expanding, and unfortunately, it is increasingly targeting new objectives, including critical infrastructure. God forbid, the introduction of new types of weapons would further increase this risk of escalation. Therefore, we need peace now more than ever,” he added.

Fidan emphasized that Türkiye continues to support Ukraine while also remaining one of the few countries making efforts to strengthen dialogue with both sides in pursuit of peace. He noted that during his visit to Moscow, he had the opportunity to hear the Russian side’s views firsthand and said that Türkiye had shared its analyses with both parties, including the U.S., which is engaged in mediation efforts.

Turning to navigation in the Black Sea, Fidan said: “The safety of navigation and commercial security in the Black Sea are of vital importance. I discussed this both with the Russian side during my visit to Moscow and with my esteemed counterpart here. I will also raise this issue in my meetings throughout today. It is an important matter for us and for all Black Sea countries.”

Fidan recalled that the United Nations had proposed maintaining commitments regarding energy security and the safety of navigation in the Black Sea even while the war continues. He said the aim was to guarantee grain security, adding: “As you know, two years ago the grain agreement achieved partial success, allowing Ukrainian grain to reach global markets freely during that period. This not only helped stabilize prices but also made a significant contribution to food security in many parts of the world, including Africa.”

With the conflict increasingly spilling over to Black Sea, Türkiye faced threats of stray drones and unmanned maritime vehicles, washing ashore on its coasts and even landing in rural areas. Stray naval mines floating in the Black Sea constitute another threat and prompted Türkiye to establish a demining task force with Bulgaria and Romania. Turkish-owned or operated tankers also face attacks by both sides of the conflict in the Black Sea.

He said he has visited the region regularly since the beginning of the war. “Because we have experience observing, analyzing, and to some extent living through wars, we are saddened to see the very scenarios we feared materializing. There has indeed been a certain degree of escalation, and this increasingly concerns us.” He observed that virtually every available means of warfare has now been employed and that, after exhausting all options, the parties appear to be reaching a psychological point at which they are ready for a cease-fire. “There is a saying that the moment closest to dawn is the darkest hour of the night. We want to believe that this destructive stage the war has reached is a sign that a ceasefire and peace may now be close.”

Fidan said that during his meetings in Moscow, senior Russian officials indicated that the parties are prepared for negotiations. He noted that neither side is opposed to coming together under the mediation of either Türkiye or the United States, describing this as a very significant development for future negotiations.

For his part, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha expressed support for the idea of bringing together Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Türkiye in a bid to end the conflict.

Sybiha noted that Erdoğan endeavored to end the conflict. He underlined that the meeting of Zelenskyy and Putin would add a new momentum to the peace process. He said Türkiye’s efforts to that extent was significant, adding that Ankara was one of the global diplomacy hubs for a swift peace.

Kremlin’s response

Meanwhile, the Kremlin said ​on Thursday that there is ⁠no immediate ⁠prospect for resuming peace ​talks with Ukraine, ​though it ⁠said that Russia remains open to it. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Russia was grateful for Türkiye’s willingness to ⁠help peace efforts.

Peskov told reporters that the Kremlin was monitoring a major reshuffle of Zelenskyy’s government, but the naming of a new ​prime minister and defense minister ​would make no ⁠difference unless Kyiv was ⁠willing to make ‌decisions leading ​to a ⁠peace settlement.