Politics
TRNC leaders commemorate Turkish Cypriots killed in 1974
Turkish Cypriot leaders on Friday commemorated the victims of the 1974 killings in the villages of Muratağa, Sandallar and Atlılar, marking the 52nd anniversary of one of the deadliest episodes of intercommunal violence on the divided island.
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Tufan Erhürman and Prime Minister Ünal Üstel paid tribute to Turkish Cypriots killed on Aug. 14, 1974, according to the Turkish News Agency Cyprus (TAK).
Commemoration ceremonies were held at cemeteries in Muratağa, Sandallar and Atlılar, where officials laid wreaths, observed moments of silence and attended prayers for the victims.
Speaking at the Muratağa-Sandallar cemetery, Erhürman said the victims represented the suffering endured by the Turkish Cypriot community during the conflict.
“Each of our martyrs lying here is the most concrete indication of the suffering experienced and the heavy price paid by the Turkish Cypriot people,” Erhürman said.
He criticized what he described as international silence over the killings, saying the lack of acknowledgment raised questions about the international community’s approach to the events.
Üstel, in a separate message marking Aug. 14, described the date as one associated with both resistance and deep suffering in Turkish Cypriot history.
He said Turkish Cypriots had refused to abandon their homeland, freedom or future despite years of violence and pressure, adding that they continued to show the same determination in the face of what he called “unjust isolation and embargoes.”
On Aug. 14, 1974, armed Greek Cypriot groups, including members of the ultranationalist EOKA terrorist group, attacked the three Turkish Cypriot villages.
A total of 126 Turkish Cypriots, many of them women and children, were killed. The youngest victim was 16-day-old Selden Ali Faik, while the oldest was 95-year-old Hüseyin Osman.
A mass grave in Atlılar was discovered on Aug. 20, 1974, after the second phase of Türkiye’s operation on Cyprus began.
The victims in Muratağa and Sandallar were discovered in early September after a shepherd noticed a hand protruding from the ground.
The mass graves were later opened in the presence of United Nations observers, and the remains of the victims were identified before being reburied at cemeteries.
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met Thursday with Arab League Secretary-General Nabil Fahmy and Egyptian General Intelligence Service chief Maj. Gen. Hassan Rashad in the coastal city of el-Alamein, the Foreign Ministry said.
Fidan began a two-day visit to Egypt on Thursday.
During the visit, Fidan is scheduled to be received by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi and meet senior Egyptian officials, according to Turkish Foreign Ministry sources.
He will discuss bilateral relations, review the current status of agreements under negotiation and encourage mutual investment in line with a common goal of increasing bilateral trade volume to $15 billion, diplomatic sources said.
The Turkish foreign minister will also discuss cooperation in hydrocarbons, electricity grid integration, energy infrastructure and mining, according to the sources.
Fidan will assess steps that can be taken to advance existing cooperation in the military and defense industries and emphasize the importance of addressing regional issues through dialogue and diplomacy on the basis of regional ownership and shared responsibility, the sources said.
He will also underline Türkiye’s determination to continue joint efforts bilaterally and through multilateral platforms such as the R4 initiative, which brings together the foreign ministers of Türkiye, Egypt, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.
The visit will include the second meeting of the Türkiye-Egypt Joint Planning Group, co-chaired by Fidan and Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, according to the sources.
The meeting will review the outcomes of the second meeting of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council, held in Cairo in February, and prepare for a third meeting planned in Türkiye in 2028.
Fidan will express support for diplomatic efforts aimed at restoring the ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, the sources said.
He will also stress the importance of immediately halting ongoing attacks in Gaza, fully implementing the ceasefire and ensuring the uninterrupted delivery of humanitarian aid.
The minister is expected to exchange views on implementing the second phase of the Gaza Peace Plan and Israel’s attacks on Palestine, Lebanon and Syria, according to the sources.
Fidan will underline the need to continue joint efforts to ensure lasting stability and security in Libya based on the country’s territorial integrity and political unity.
He will also reaffirm Türkiye’s support for Sudan’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity, the sources said.
Fidan will share assessments on the roles and contributions Türkiye and Egypt can make toward establishing lasting peace and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan received lawmakers Pervin Buldan and Mithat Sancar, members of the PKK-linked Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party’s (DEM Party) Imralı delegation, and held a meeting with the families of fallen soldiers and veterans at the Presidential Complex in Ankara on Thursday.
The closed-door meeting lasted about one hour and 40 minutes and was also attended by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) acting Chair Efkan Ala and National Intelligence Organization (MIT) chief Ibrahim Kalın.
No statement was immediately issued following the meeting.
Buldan and Sancar have served as intermediaries in contacts with jailed PKK terrorist ringleader Abdullah Öcalan on Imralı Island as part of Türkiye’s terror-free initiative.
Later Thursday, Erdoğan received families of fallen soldiers and veterans at the Presidential Complex.
Family and Social Services Minister Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş attended the meeting and said Türkiye would continue to honor the memory of its fallen soldiers, recognize the sacrifices of its veterans and stand by their families.
In a statement on social media, Erdoğan later said that he had met with the families of fallen soldiers and veterans at the Presidential Complex.
“The homeland where we live freely, in peace and security, is entrusted to us by our fallen soldiers and veterans. The families of those who sacrificed their lives and shed their blood to protect the unity and integrity of this country are also entrusted to us,” Erdoğan said.
He said the state had mobilized all available resources to support veterans and the families of fallen soldiers and would continue to do so.
Referring to Türkiye’s “terror-free Türkiye” initiative, Erdoğan said Parliament had taken an important step this week as part of efforts to eliminate terrorism from the country.
“Türkiye has reached this stage, above all, thanks to the heroic struggle of our nation’s sons and daughters, the resilience of your families and the achievements our state has made, particularly in the defense industry in recent years,” he said.
“God willing, by acting with patience, common sense and composure, we will rid Türkiye of this scourge once and for all,” Erdoğan added.
The talks come after Parliament approved the Law on Strengthening National Solidarity and Social Integration, commonly referred to as the “framework law,” with broad parliamentary support.
Parliament on Monday passed a landmark 12-article law supporting the country’s “Terror-Free Türkiye” initiative, following months of political efforts led by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli.
The Law on Strengthening National Solidarity and Social Integration was approved with 468 votes in favor and 88 against, with six abstentions.
The legislation forms a key part of the legal framework surrounding the ongoing “terror-free Türkiye” initiative, which seeks to bring an end to decades of terrorism and strengthen social integration.
Türkiye and Egypt will continue to deepen bilateral ties based on mutual trust and shared interests as the two regional powers seek to contribute to peace and stability, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Friday following a visit to Egypt.
Fidan said in a statement shared on the Turkish social media platform NSosyal, that the visit provided an important opportunity to discuss what he described as the “excellent level” of bilateral cooperation between Ankara and Cairo, as well as regional developments.
“Strengthening cooperation between our countries serves not only the common interests of our peoples but also the establishment of peace, stability and prosperity in our region.”
The minister noted that Türkiye and Egypt were two major states acting with an awareness of the responsibilities placed on them by their history and geography.
During the visit, Fidan and his Egyptian counterpart, Badr Abdelatty, co-chaired the second meeting of the Türkiye-Egypt Joint Planning Group.
Fidan also held talks with Egyptian General Intelligence Service chief Hassan Rashad and Arab League Secretary-General Nabil Fahmy.
The two sides signed agreements aimed at increasing bilateral trade, diversifying economic relations and strengthening connectivity between the countries, he said.
It was also added that Ankara and Cairo would continue working “shoulder to shoulder” in line with the vision of their presidents to further strengthen bilateral relations.
Egypt is one of Türkiye’s leading trade and export partners in Africa. Bilateral trade reached about $8 billion in 2025, with the two countries aiming to increase the figure to $15 billion, a target set by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and el-Sissi.
Turkish investments in Egypt have exceeded $4 billion, underscoring the growing economic ties between the two countries. Turkish-owned companies currently contribute to the employment of about 100,000 Egyptians.
Invited by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas arrived in Ankara on Tuesday.
Erdoğan hosted a welcoming ceremony for Abbas on Wednesday before the two leaders sat down for talks on the future of Palestine and Israel’s actions undermining hopes for a solution.
The two leaders, who were scheduled to hold a joint news conference later on Wednesday, focused on the latest developments regarding Palestine, bilateral ties between Ankara and Ramallah, and regional developments.
Israel’s attacks on Gaza, international efforts against its attempts to annex the West Bank, and steps taken by the Netanyahu government to expel Palestinians from their territories, both through its genocidal campaign in Gaza and through illegal settlements, were expected to be on the agenda during the meeting.
According to the latest U.N. secretary-general’s report on settlements, Israeli authorities advanced or approved plans to build 4,750 settlement units in the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem, between March 14 and June 12.
On March 25, the Israeli government also approved the establishment or legalization of 34 illegal settlements in Area C of the West Bank, the largest number approved in a single Israeli government decision, according to the same U.N. report.
U.N. Security Council Resolution 2334 affirms that Israeli settlements in Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including occupied East Jerusalem, have “no legal validity” and constitute a flagrant violation of international law.
The meeting was also expected to address attacks on holy sites, such as Al-Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem, led by Israeli politicians, the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza, and initiatives led by Türkiye. The Gaza peace plan and reconstruction efforts in Palestine, particularly in Gaza, were also expected to be discussed.
Türkiye champions the Palestinian cause on every platform and seeks to be a voice for Palestinians in the international community. President Erdoğan raises the issue at international events, and this is also expected to be the case at next month’s United Nations General Assembly in New York, United States.
Thanks to Türkiye’s diplomatic initiatives, the number of leaders and influential figures speaking out against Israel has increased. Ankara continues its efforts to intensify international pressure on Israel while consistently raising the Palestinian cause and Israel’s aggression on every platform.
On Gaza, Türkiye has consistently supported an immediate cease-fire, expanded humanitarian access, and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, while remaining among the strongest international critics of Israel’s attacks. Working in close strategic alignment with Doha, Ankara has coordinated joint mediation efforts alongside Qatar and regional partners to enforce a lasting cease-fire, secure uninterrupted humanitarian relief and advance diplomatic channels for a comprehensive regional peace settlement.
Türkiye has transformed from a regional power into a global actor during the Justice and Development Party’s (AK Party) 25-year political journey, the party’s deputy chair, Efkan Ala, said as the ruling party prepares to mark the anniversary of its founding.
Speaking to Ihlas News Agency (IHA), Ala said Türkiye’s foreign policy had shifted from what he described as a largely passive approach before the AK Party came to power to one based on active diplomacy backed by growing economic and defense capabilities.
“With the AK Party, this evolved into an active foreign policy,” Ala said. “Türkiye became a global actor through its achievements in the defense industry and economy and through reforms that strengthened both politics and institutions.”
Ala pointed to Türkiye’s growing domestic defense industry, saying the country now manufactures unmanned aerial vehicles and other systems that it previously struggled to procure from abroad. Türkiye has also emerged among the world’s defense exporters, he added.
He cited Ankara’s involvement in developments in Syria and Karabakh, as well as its diplomatic efforts surrounding the Russia-Ukraine war, as examples of Türkiye’s expanding international role.
“Türkiye has reached a point where its opinion is sought on any issue in the world,” Ala said, adding that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is among a small number of leaders who have an influential voice on major global issues.
The AK Party, founded under Erdoğan’s leadership in 2001, came to power roughly a year later. Ala described its quarter-century in politics as a period of major political and institutional transformation.
He recalled a series of challenges faced by the party, including military interventions in politics, attempts to shut down the party, the 2013 Gezi Park protests, the December 2013 investigations and the failed July 15, 2016 coup.
He said the dispute ultimately led the AK Party to pursue a constitutional amendment allowing presidents to be elected directly by voters. The change was approved in a referendum, paving the way for Erdoğan to become Türkiye’s first directly elected president in 2014.
Ala also highlighted changes introduced during the AK Party’s rule, including reforms in civilian-military relations and the lifting of restrictions on women wearing headscarves in public institutions.
He said the party’s 25-year record reflected what he described as a political journey shaped by public support and efforts to strengthen civilian politics and Türkiye’s role abroad.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will meet with a delegation from the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) at the Presidential Complex in Ankara on Thursday, in the first such meeting since Parliament approved legislation tied to Türkiye’s “terror-free Türkiye” initiative.
Erdoğan is scheduled to receive DEM Party lawmakers Pervin Buldan and Mithat Sancar, members of the party’s Imralı delegation, at 4 p.m. local time, according to a statement from the party.
The talks come after Parliament approved the Law on Strengthening National Solidarity and Social Integration, commonly referred to as the “framework law,” with broad parliamentary support.
Parliament on Monday passed a landmark 12-article law supporting the country’s “Terror-Free Türkiye” initiative, following months of political efforts led by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli.
The Law on Strengthening National Solidarity and Social Integration was approved with 468 votes in favor and 88 against, with six abstentions.
The legislation forms a key part of the legal framework surrounding the ongoing “terror-free Türkiye” initiative, which seeks to bring an end to decades of terrorism and strengthen social integration.
Thursday’s meeting will mark the first talks between Erdoğan and the Imralı delegation since the legislation was adopted.
Erdoğan last met Buldan and Sancar on Feb. 11, 2026. Following those talks, the delegation said the sides had reaffirmed their shared commitment to advancing the initiative.
The delegation also stressed at the time the importance of adopting legal measures related to the process “without delay and with the broadest possible consensus.”
The latest meeting is expected to focus on the implementation of the newly adopted legislation and the next phase of the process.
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