Day: June 20, 2021

The Afghan foreign minister on Sunday welcomed Turkey’s willingness to secure Kabul airport after the withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan, saying it is necessary for the presence of the diplomatic community in the country.

“First of all, we very much welcome Turkey’s willingness to sustain the capabilities and the facilities as well as the high-level technological arrangements for the airport, which will be necessary for the continuous presence of diplomatic community, as well as the continued support of the international community to Afghanistan and our national security forces,” Haneef Atmar said in an exclusive interview with Anadolu Agency on the sidelines of Antalya Diplomacy Forum.

“Turkey has made a bold and very much commendable initiative,” he said, adding that they will support the move “fully.” “Turkey has an extremely important role both at a regional and global level.”

On a trilateral meeting between Turkey, Afghanistan and Iran, he said they have agreed to cooperate in three “important” areas: Afghan peace process, security, counterterrorism, preventing organized crimes and illegal migration, and economic cooperation.

Atmar met his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu and Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif earlier in the day.

“We reiterated our commitment to the peace process and emphasized that we three work together, as well as with Pakistan,” the minister said.

He said that they resolved to take practical measures for counterterrorism and security, and agreed on a transit and trade corridor linking Afghanistan to Turkey through Iran.

Underlining that there will be other members of NATO supporting the initiative (security of Kabul airport), including the US, he said Hungary and Norway, which is interested in running a field hospital, will also be a part of the process.

He said Pakistan’s role in the broader peace and stabilization process in Afghanistan is “very important.”

“I’m glad how Turkey, a brotherly country, is so keen in seeking support from the entire region for this peace and stabilization effort, but especially from Pakistan,” said the top Afghan diplomat.

– Taliban met none of its commitments

The minister claimed that the US, NATO, and Afghanistan have honored their commitments made in the Doha peace deal, but the Taliban have not.

“So, it’s time for the world community, and especially our region, to call on the Taliban that they must honor their obligations,” he said. “They must stop violence, and they must in good faith join the Afghan government in peace negotiations.”

Under the February 2020 agreement, the US committed to withdraw all foreign forces from Afghanistan in return of a reduction in violence and intra-Afghan reconciliation through a dialogue process.

While President Joe Biden has announced a complete withdrawal from the war-torn country by Sept. 11, negotiations in Qatar have made little progress.

Regarding the surge in violence across Afghanistan since May, Atmar said: “International troops are leaving the country. So, now it is important for all of us to come together and put pressure on the Taliban to stop the violence and join the peace process.”

– Antalya Diplomacy Forum ‘very successful’

Atmar congratulated the government of Turkey for holding the “very successful” Antalya Diplomacy Forum.

“I would like to particularly acknowledge, pay my respects to the efforts of my brother [Mevlut Cavusoglu],” he said, adding that the Turkish minister has done a “fantastic job to create this forum and bring together ministers, leaders of states and governments, and experts to discuss common challenges in this region and in the global community.”

Source: Anadolu Agency

Islam is part of European history and culture, and not something from outside, a former minister of Portugal said.

“The glorious history in Europe … I hope it can be understood, and that we can move toward not just having a good relationship with Islam, but actually understand that it is part of European history and culture … in the Balkans, Spain and other parts, and now in many European cities with large populations,” Bruno Macaes, who served as the Europe minister in the Portuguese government between 2013 and 2015, told Anadolu Agency on the sidelines of Antalya Diplomacy Forum.

“So it’s not a foreign religion, it is a part of ourselves, and can help restore some diversity, vibrancy to Europe. We need that.”

Islam, considered Europe’s fastest growing religion, has presence on the continent since the 8th century. Muslims established an illustrious civilization in Spain, and later expanded toward southeastern Europe.

Many regions saw mass killings, expulsions and forced conversion of Muslims but elements of their civilization and culture such as architecture, food, music and language, have remained.

Asked about the controversial remarks of French President Emmanuel Macron on Islam, Macaes, currently a senior adviser at Flint Global, said: “It’s not up to the politicians to decide whether religions are in crisis or not, it is to the fate of every religion.”

Last year, Macron accused French Muslims of “separatism,” and described Islam as a “religion in crisis.” He also defended blasphemous cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad.

About rising Islamophobia in Europe, Macaes said “yes, it’s a big problem,” and “very concerning” since it is not limited to France, pointing to racism and hate toward minorities in countries such as Austria.

“In Austria, there was this idea of having a law against political Islam and no one knows very well what political Islam means in practice,” he said. “What worries me is that this is not limited to isolated incidents, but sometimes it comes from politicians themselves.”

– Transatlantic relations

As US President Joe Biden recently paid a visit to Europe, Macaes said the US-EU relations are now “much better” than during the tenure of former President Donald Trump.

“That is not a surprise,” he said, adding that they have “a very good understanding of each other.”

He added that after George Bush Sr., Biden seems to be the one “who appreciates Europe and the EU more.”

According to Macaes, former US presidents, including Barack Obama, “had doubts about Europe.”

“There are issues that are difficult to deal with, but the mood is ‘we have difficult issues to deal with but we have good spirit’,” he explained.

But, he argued, Europe wants be more “autonomous to develop capacities.”

“There are trade and technology issues to solve. There are slightly different approaches to China. So there are of course, political issues, but the spirit is very good,” he said.

– Turkey-US relations

On the future of Turkey-US relations after the recent in-person meeting between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Biden at NATO’s June 14 summit in Brussels, Macaes said: “Surprisingly better than expected.”

“I think the first sign was the Afghanistan peace process and how Turkey was involved … the US seems to be very happy with that. Now this meeting also went well,” he said.

“Probably, Biden understands that Turkey is important. The US is in deep confrontation with both China and Russia, and Turkey is important to have on your side, or at least I think there’s this idea in Washington that America should not push Turkey closer to Russia and China.”

Commenting on the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, a gathering of political leaders, diplomats, opinion makers and academics, he said “the geographical expansion” of the forum, from Africa and Latin America to Middle East and Central Asia, impressed him.

Source: Anadolu Agency

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu met with numerous top diplomats and heads of international organizations on Saturday on the occasion of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum (ADF) in southern Turkey.

Cavusoglu started the day with a trilateral meeting with the participation of foreign ministers of Malta and Libya, Evaris Bartolo and Najla Mangoush, respectively in Antalya.

He then held another trilateral meeting with Moldova’s Acting Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Aureliu Ciocoi.

Turkey is strengthening its cooperation with Moldova in every field and supporting its Gagauz kinsmen, Cavusoglu said.

Cavusoglu also held separate meetings with Afghanistan’s chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation Abdullah Abdullah and Foreign Minister Mohammed Haneef Atmar.

Cavusoglu’s busy day continued with the meetings, which he described as fruitful, with foreign ministers of Malaysia, Somali and Tajikistan, Hishamuddin Hussein, Mohamed Abdirizak and Sirojiddin Muhriddin, respectively.

He also held a tour of meetings with Mathias Corman, General-Secretary of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Kenyan Foreign Minister Raychelle Omamo, and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba.

Furthermore, Cavusoglu met with Polish, Gabonese and Cameroonian foreign ministers, Zbigniew Rau, Pacôme Moubelet Boubeya, and Lejeune Mbella Mbella, respectively.

He lastly met with former foreign ministers of Germany and Austria, Sigmar Gabriel and Karin Kneissl, and the 5th president of Ukraine, Petro Poroshenko.

Later, Cavusoglu met with young people as part of the ADF Youth Forum.

Commenting on Turkey’s Asia Anew initiative, he said: “Asia has once again become the center of economic power in the world. The balance of the economy is shifting rapidly towards Asia”.

Cavusoglu said Turkey could not see the solidarity it expected from NATO from time to time despite the fact that it is one of the countries that has made the most contributions to the military alliance.

He said Turkey currently has good relations with Russia. “Just as other states within NATO, we also develop diplomatic relations with other countries.”

“Countries like us, which are not only regional but also global actors, have to maintain good relations with different countries at the same time. One should not be seen as an alternative to the other. It is important to be principled and transparent,” he said

The Turkish top diplomat stressed that countries from different parts of the world want to improve economic relations with Turkey.

Countries attach great importance to the economic potential of Turkey thanks to opportunities offered by regionalization, Cavusoglu noted.

The three-day Antalya Diplomacy Forum, with Anadolu Agency as its global communication partner, is hosting ten heads of state and government, 42 foreign ministers, three former heads of state and government, and more than 50 representatives of international organizations or former government officials, according to the Turkish Foreign Ministry.

Debates of global importance were analyzed in-depth during the forum, including the Balkans, the future of Europe, trans-Atlantic relations, refugees and migrants, and the threat of terrorism.

Source: Anadolu Agency

Turkey’s EURO 2020 journey ended without any point after losing against Switzerland 3-1 in their last Group A match on Sunday at the Baku Olympic Stadium.

Turkey were close to score just in the fourth minute, but Kaan Ayhan’s powerful long-range strike was blocked by goalkeeper Sommer.

Switzerland took an early lead in their first attempt.

Haris Seferovic found the net with a low shot to defeat goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir, giving his team a 1-0 lead in the sixth minute.

Switzerland took the control after the first goal while Xherdan Shaqiri scored with a powerful strike from outside the box, taking the score to 2-0 in the 26th minute.

Turkey made an effort for scoring, but Sommer made a great save to deny Mert Muldur’s powerful strike from outside the box in the 33rd minute.

Muldur, who was one the best Turkish players in the first half, made another attempt but could not pass Sommer again and the first half ended 2-0.

In the 62nd minute, Turkey scored their only EURO 2020 goal. Irfan Can Kahveci fired a precise strike from around 20 meters, 2-1.

However, Turkey failed to stop Shaqiri again, as he netted his second goal with a great attacking play by his team in the 68th minute, 3-1.

Switzerland went on several occasions to score more, but they could not beat Cakir.

Turkey lost all group matches, while Switzerland finished in third with four points.

Source: Anadolu Agency

Anadolu Agency is here with a rundown of the latest developments on the coronavirus pandemic and other news in Turkey and around the world.

– Coronavirus and other developments in Turkey

Turkey has lowered its coronavirus vaccination eligibility age to 30, the health minister announced.

More than 41.02 million coronavirus vaccine doses have been administered since the country launched a mass vaccination campaign in January, according to the Health Ministry.

An excess of 26.67 million people have received their first doses, while over 14.34 million have been fully vaccinated.

Meanwhile, the ministry also confirmed 5,480 new infections in the last 24 hours, including 494 symptomatic patients.

Turkey’s overall case count is now more than 5.36 million, while the nationwide death toll stands at 49,122 with 51 new fatalities.

As many as 4,195 additional patients won the battle against the virus, raising the number of recoveries past 5.22 million.

A Turkish Airlines cargo plane carrying 5 million more doses of China’s Sinovac vaccine landed in Ankara, according to the Health Ministry.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu met with top diplomats and heads of international organizations during the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in southern Turkey.

Turkey’s presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin met Bjoern Seibert, head of the Cabinet of the European Commission president.

Turkey has huge investment and earning potential in the tourism sector, according to the country’s president.

A magnitude-3.9 earthquake struck Istanbul, according to the nation’s Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD).

Burak Elmas was elected Galatasaray new president.

During the past 11 days, Turkish sea cleaning teams have collected 4,202 cubic meters (148,392 cubic feet) of mucilage from the Marmara Sea, said the nation’s environment and urbanization minister.

– COVID-19 updates worldwide

More than 2.58 billion coronavirus vaccine doses have been given worldwide, according to figures compiled by Our World in Data, a tracking website.

Brazil reached the grim milestone of half a million deaths from COVID-19, the second-highest in the world after the US.

The UK has recorded more than 10,000 daily cases for the third day in a row, with a top scientist warning that the country is in the grips of a third wave.

– Other global developments

Iran’s ultra-conservative judiciary chief, Ebrahim Raeisi, was declared the winner of the presidential election, which saw the lowest turnout in the nation’s history.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan congratulated Raeisi for winning the election.

Turkey’s defense minister discussed bilateral security and regional issues with his US counterpart via telephone.

Officials from Balkan countries discussed steps to improve relations with the EU and each other at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Turkey.

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan reiterated that his country will not allow the US to carry out counter-terrorism operations following Washington’s scheduled troop pullout from neighboring Afghanistan, according to state-run media.

An Iraqi court ordered the release of former President Saddam Hussein’s son-in-law after 18 years in prison, according to the Justice Ministry.

A police officer died and 11 people were injured when a helicopter that was carrying ballot boxes crashed in Iran’s southwestern Khuzestan province.

An Ebola outbreak in Guinea that began in February has been declared over, according to the World Health Organization.

Source: Anadolu Agency

Turkey and Spain will discuss on Monday bilateral relations and matters related to the EU in a videoconference, according to the Turkish Foreign Ministry.

The consultations will be co-chaired by Turkey’s Deputy Foreign Minister Faruk Kaymakci and Spain’s State Secretary for the EU Juan Gonzalez Barba, the ministry said in a statement on Sunday.

“During the consultations, the preparations for the 7th Turkey-Spain Intergovernmental Summit and all aspects of bilateral relations will be discussed, and exchange of views will be made within the scope of Turkey-EU relations,” it added.

Source: Anadolu Agency

Turkey’s national men’s volleyball team beat Ukraine to become winner of CEV Volleyball European Golden League 2021 on Sunday.

Turkey won the final with the sets of 25-11, 25-20, 18-25 and 25-21 in Belgium’s Kortrijk.

They sealed the title in the tournament back-to-back. The national team won the Golden League in 2019, the 2020 edition was canceled due to coronavirus pandemic.

Adis Lagumdzija was the top scorer of the match with 23 points, Yigit Gulmezoglu accompanied Adis with 16 points of his own.

Efe Mandiraci had the winning point for Turkey with a spike, his only point in the match.

Source: Anadolu Agency

Red Bull’s Dutch driver Max Verstappen sealed a victory in the seventh Grand Prix of the 2021 season in France on Sunday.

He gained his 13th career win after completing the 53-lap race at 1:27:25 at the Circuit Paul Ricard, Le Castellet.

Mercedes team driver Lewis Hamilton finished in 2.904 seconds behind him, while Verstappen’s teammate Sergio Perez came third, 8.811 seconds behind.

The eighth race of the season will take place in Austria on June 27.

– 2021’s top five drivers, constructors

Driver standings:

1. Max Verstappen (Netherlands): 131 points

2. Lewis Hamilton (Great Britain): 119

3. Sergio Perez (Mexico): 84

4. Lando Norris (Great Britain): 76

5. Valtteri Bottas (Finland): 59

Constructor standings:

1. Red Bull: 215

2. Mercedes: 178

3. McLaren: 110

4. Ferrari: 94

5. AlphaTauri: 45

Source: Anadolu Agency

Post-electoral violence has been the mark of the past five parliamentary and regional councils’ elections in Ethiopia, held every five years.

With the nation bracing for polls Monday, the fear of violence remains the elephant in the room.

Instigation and hate speech on social media have been potent instruments used to pit one group against another. And the trend is expected to take a more sinister dimension during elections.

“Hate speech is one of the characteristics the social media use everywhere in the world,” Elias Worku, an instructor at the Journalism and Communication School of Addis Ababa University told Anadolu Agency. “The problem in Ethiopia is the political structure is defined along ethnic lines and that adds more fuel.”

Although only 6% of Ethiopian use social media, hate has been circulated untrammeled, leading to social disturbances as the country has witnessed at various times, he said.

He said Facebook and YouTube have been some of the most exploited social media channels by Ethiopians and most accounts were opened using pseudonyms.

“Instigators get away with it more often leaving the consequences to be shouldered by society,” said Worku, who is a researcher and trainer in digital media.

He advised that all in Ethiopia should be wary of election-time instigations and hate speech.

Facebook as an organization, appears to be standing on the side of electoral peace in Ethiopia this time around.

“We removed 65 Facebook accounts, 52 Pages, 27 Groups, and 32 accounts on Instagram for violating our policy against coordinated inauthentic behavior. This network originated in and focused on domestic audiences in Ethiopia,” the company said on June 16.

“The people behind this activity coordinated with one another and used fake accounts as a central part of their operations to mislead people about who they are and what they are doing, and that was the basis for our action. When we investigate and remove CIB [combatting Influence Operations] operations, we focus on behavior rather than content, no matter who’s behind them, what they post, or whether they’re foreign or domestic.”

Facebook earlier shared an update on ongoing election integrity work in Ethiopia by activating its Elections Operation Center.

Activities, it said in a press release, include “efforts to detect and remove hate speech and content that incites violence.”

Reducing the spread of misinformation, improving digital literacy and making political advertising more transparent were also some of the activities Facebook would be undertaking in Ethiopia before, on and after the polls.

“Facebook opened its first Elections Operations Center in 2018, ahead of the elections held that year in the United States and Brazil. Since then, Facebook has run operations centers for major elections around the world, including upcoming elections in Ethiopia,” it said.

More than 37 million registered voters will cast ballots in the elections that are being held after a one-year hiatus because of the coronavirus pandemic.

But the electoral board has already announced a list of regional states and localities within regional states that may not vote on the announced date due to various reasons, including the level of preparation, security and logistics, among others.

Polls in the Harari regional state in eastern Ethiopia, as well as several areas in Somali, Oromia and one district in Benishangul Gumuz state will be conducted in September.

In Tigray, where a massive law enforcement operation has been ongoing since November, elections will not take place anytime soon. The hitherto all-too-powerful TPLF party has been launching sporadic attacks from the bushes in recent months, trying to regain power at least in the regional state, though the Ethiopian parliament declared it a terror organization.

The Tigray region is currently being run by an interim administration.

Two parties, Oromo Liberation Front and Oromo Federalist Council, have withdrawn from the electoral contest to cast a shadow on electoral integrity. But the government said it will make sure elections this time will be democratic, free and fair. It said it would accept results and urged parties to do the same.

If that level of civility comes about on the Ethiopian electoral scene, it would signal the first-ever democratic stride made by Africa’s second most populous nation.

The degree of independence the electoral board has displayed during the electoral process as it is well in charge of the most complex work of organizing an election in a nation troubled by ethnic division, conflicts and other socio-economic maladies, was nothing short of miraculous.

In the previous five elections held since 1995, the body was as weak as it was subservient to the ruling party — the now-defunct Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front – a four-party coalition that was greatly influenced by the Tigray People’s Liberation Front — some of whose leaders are now in prison standing trials or in the bushes launching sporadic attacks.

As for the role of social media in the latest episode of Ethiopian elections, Worku said: “Marked improvements are being seen in the ways people are communicating via social media, particularly on Facebook.”

But there is still too much hate circulating. And that needs to be tamed through persistent awareness-raising in the use and impact of digital media.

Source: Anadolu Agency