Yumaklı and Sudanese Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation İsmet Guraşi attended the 16th Term Turkey-Sudan Joint Economic Commission (KEK) Meeting Minutes Signing Ceremony at the General Directorate of State Hydraulic Works (DSİ). Underlining that the relations between Turkey and Sudan are based not only on a common geography but also on unshakable historical ties and deep unity of heart, Yumaklı explained that it is extremely valuable to hold this meeting after 8 years.

Yumaklı pointed out that KEK is the main execution platform in strategic areas such as trade, investment, agriculture, energy, health and education and said, “I believe that the decisions we took in this meeting will give a new impetus to our relations in the coming period and strengthen the bonds of brotherhood between our peoples.” he said. Stating that they are pleased to see that the commercial relations between Turkey and Sudan have developed significantly in the last twenty years, Yumaklı said, “Our bilateral trade volume, which was at the level of 71 million dollars in 2003, reached an all-time high of 680 million dollars in 2022. However, with the effect of the ongoing current conditions in Sudan, our trade volume has reached 390 million dollars as of 2025.” he said.

Yumaklı said that they believe that trade will start to increase again as permanent stability is achieved in Sudan and the economic normalization process accelerates. Pointing out that the goal of increasing the bilateral trade volume to 2 billion dollars in the medium term is achievable, Yumaklı said, “In this context, it is of great importance that the Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement and the Mutual Promotion and Protection of Investments Agreement signed between Turkey and Sudan come into force.” he said. Yumaklı pointed out that Sudan has significant potential for Turkish investors and contracting companies and continued: “We evaluate that our investments in Sudan have reached the level of approximately 300 million dollars. The Turkish contracting sector has been one of the most concrete indicators of the economic partnership between the two countries, with more than 90 projects worth 3 billion dollars it has undertaken to date. In the coming period, the joint projects to be developed in strategic areas such as agriculture, energy, telecommunications, defense industry, food security and modern irrigation technologies will add a new dimension to our cooperation.” We believe it will bring success.”
Emphasizing that they attach great importance to improving relations with Sudan in areas such as agriculture, health, education and humanitarian cooperation, Yumaklı said, “We have 5 agreements that form the legal basis of our cooperation in the fields of agriculture, water, animal husbandry and forestry. Both parties act with awareness of the strategic importance of cooperation in the fields of agriculture, irrigation and food security in supporting sustainable economic development and strengthening bilateral economic relations.” he said.

According to the statement made by the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar met with Nigerian Solid Minerals Development Minister Oladele Henry Alake, who came to Türkiye within the scope of the 2nd Istanbul Natural Resources Summit.

LONG-TERM COOPERATION WILL BE MADE

After the meeting, Minister Bayraktar and Alake signed the “Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the Republic of Turkey and the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on Cooperation in the Field of Mining”.

According to the agreement reached, Türkiye and Nigeria will establish long-term cooperation in the field of energy and natural resources on the basis of mutual benefit. In this context, cooperation opportunities in the exploration of mineral resources will be evaluated.

INFORMATION AND EXPERTISE WILL BE SHARED

Cooperation will be carried out in areas such as promotion of mining investments, geological research, laboratory studies, data sharing, mineral enrichment technologies, sharing of knowledge and expertise and development of human resource capacity.

In addition, the development of joint projects, promotion of safe mining practices and cooperation opportunities for small-scale mining activities will also be discussed.

Ankara Regional Court of Justice 36th Civil Chamber, in the CHP congress case, decided that Özgür Özel and the party management should be suspended from duty as a precautionary measure, and Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu and his management would take over the duty. After the decision, there are lively moments within the party.

Another striking statement regarding the absolute nullity decision came from CHP’s Ankara Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mansur Yavaş.

“IN THE STATE OF LAW, JUDICIAL DECISIONS CANNOT BE IGNORED”

Drawing attention to the importance of the rule of law and constitutional boundaries in his statement, Mansur Yavaş emphasized the pending trial processes. Reminding that, in accordance with Article 79 of the Constitution, the management and supervision of elections are exclusively under the authority of the Supreme Electoral Board (YSK), Yavaş said the following:

“Of course, there is a judicial decision, and in the rule of law, no decision is considered non-existent. However, while the criminal cases have not yet been concluded, the court’s actual opinion comes to replace a trial process that has not been finalized.”

“CONGRESS DECISION SHOULD BE MADE WITHIN 1-2 MONTH”

Yavaş underlined that the legal process should not lead to debates and divisions within the party and pointed to democratic practices as a solution. Stating that escalation of tension should be avoided, Yavaş said:

“For this reason, what needs to be done is not to escalate the tension, but to act with common sense and declare that the party will make a congress decision within 1-2 months of its own will and run the process within democratic practices.”

Presidential Communications Director Burhanettin Duran, in his post on his NSosyal account, stated that the memory of a nation lives sometimes in a folk song and sometimes in the hearts that meet around the same table.

Emphasizing that Turkish cuisine has been not only food for centuries, but also one of the most beautiful carriers of sharing, abundance, hospitality and culture, Duran said:

“Turkish Cuisine Week, celebrated for the fifth time this year with the theme of ‘Heritage on a Table’ under the auspices of Mrs. Emine Erdoğan, not only introduces the deep-rooted flavors of Anatolia to the world, but also keeps our strong civilization heritage alive from past to present. We would like to thank all our cooks, producers, and everyone who has kept this valuable heritage alive, especially the Esteemed Lady who pioneered this meaningful vision, and everyone who has worked hard and carried our culture to the future, and wishes Turkish Cuisine Week most sincerely.” I congratulate you with my best wishes.”

The memory of a nation lives sometimes in a folk song, and sometimes in the hearts that meet around the same table. Turkish Cuisine has been not just food for centuries; It has been one of the most beautiful carriers of sharing, abundance, hospitality and our culture.

Dear Emine Erdoğan… pic.twitter.com/tv152wgF4T

— Burhanettin Duran (@burhanduran) May 21, 2026

At the introductory meeting held in Olbia City Square this year with the theme “Let Our Summer School Be Colorful”, TÜGVA President İbrahim Giriş said to the journalists that they held the press promotion of TÜGVA Summer Schools at their headquarters in Istanbul yesterday.

Stating that they explained the importance of education and youth at the meeting, Kırmızı said that they met with students in Antalya’s Konyaaltı district today.

Stating that they will host secondary school students in summer schools for 6 weeks as of July, Kırmızı said:

“We will spend the summer period of our young people to the fullest with a very diverse and rich curriculum, from sports activities to culture and art activities. We want to raise well-grounded, classy, intellectual young people. In this context, we bring together many activities. We want to contribute to their self-confidence. We want to build their personalities and characters. We want to have a contribution here. Therefore, we are making the summer period ready for them. We want them to have fun and learn here. We take the burden off our parents.” We want to alleviate it on this occasion.”

Fifth, he stated that the school will be operational in 81 provinces and that they accept applications through the website and TÜGVA provincial representatives.

Emphasizing that all secondary school students will be admitted to the school free of charge, Kırmızı noted that the only criterion is that they must be young and secondary school students.

At the event, awards were given to the children who were successful in the “Bookworm” competition, and many secondary school students had the opportunity to do sports in the established playgrounds.

📍Antalya | Summer School Launch

The magnificent energy of the Mediterranean, the joy of our youth and the wonderful moments that emerge! 🫂

This summer is not just a holiday for our middle school students; An adventure where they will use their energy, make new friendships and discover themselves… pic.twitter.com/SxE3h5thNi

— Ibrahim Fifth (@ibrahim_besinci) May 21,

Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy spoke at the opening program of the 8th Ethnosport Culture Festival organized with the participation of World Ethnosport Union President Bilal Erdoğan.

Stating that culture is one of the strongest values ​​that form the memory of societies at the opening of the festival held in Istanbul, Ersoy said, “Culture is the memory of a society; it is the strongest bridge built between the past and the future. It is the traditions that keep nations alive and the common spirit they transmit from generation to generation.” he said.

Minister of Youth and Sports Osman Aşkın Bak, Minister of Health Prof. Dr. Kemal Memişoğlu, AK Party Deputy Chairman and Bursa Deputy Efkan Âlâ, AK Party Deputy Chairman and Istanbul Deputy Fatma Betül Sayan Kaya and Zafer Sırakaya, and AK Party Istanbul Provincial Chairman Abdullah Özdemir were also present.

Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy and World Ethnosport Union President Bilal Erdoğan visited the stands established in the festival area within the scope of the program and inspected the stands of the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) and the Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB). While Ersoy and Erdoğan met with the visitors, they also paid close attention to the children. Ersoy served traditional “Dirlik Soup” to the citizens in the festival area, then distributed ashure to the visitors together with Bilal Erdoğan, chatted and followed the activities in the field.

Emphasis on ‘Peace’, ‘Solidarity’, ‘Respect’ and ‘Tradition’ in Ethnosport

Stating that this year the festival was founded on four strong values: “Peace”, “Solidarity”, “Respect” and “Tradition”, Ersoy said in his opening speech: “We believe that the more hearts this call reaches, the bigger step will be taken for our common future.” he said.

Stating that hundreds of traditions from 24 countries came together in Istanbul within the scope of the festival, Ersoy said that athletes, artists and cultural ambassadors from a wide geography from Japan to Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan to Lithuania, Russia to Kyrgyzstan and Egypt participated in the festival.

Noting that sportsmen from Türkiye and all over the world will compete in the festival areas, Ersoy stated that visitors will also have the opportunity to meet different cultures.

World Cuisines and Traditional Cultures in the Same Festival

Emphasizing that the festival is not limited to traditional sports only, Minister Ersoy stated that the unique tastes of world cuisines will also be one of the important meeting points of the festival.

Ersoy said that the traditional tastes of a wide cultural geography will meet visitors.

Gaza Message at the Ethnosport Festival

Stating that social awareness activities will be carried out together with non-governmental organizations in the Solidarity Obası established in the festival area, Ersoy stated that attention will be drawn to the human tragedies experienced in oppressed geographies, especially Gaza.

In his speech, Minister Ersoy said, “A strong call will be made to end the human tragedy in Gaza.” he said.

“Every Child Has the Right to Play”

Addressing the children, Minister Ersoy said, “You are the most valuable guests of this festival. This year, we act with the understanding of ‘Every Child Has the Right to Play’.” he said.

Ersoy called on children to have fun in the playgrounds, workshops and stage events prepared for them and said, “Connect with your roots. Because our traditions will carry to the future on your shoulders.” he said.

At the end of his speech, Minister Ersoy thanked World Ethnosport Union President Bilal Erdoğan, his team, Ministry employees and all guests who attended the festival, who contributed to the realization of the organization.

Ersoy expressed his hope that the Ethnosport Culture Festival would lead to peace, brotherhood and solidarity of world cultures.