TURKEYE

WNAM REPORT: Türkiye’s Foreign Ministry welcomed a roadmap agreed on by Syria, Jordan and the US to resolve the crisis in Syria’s Suwayda province.

“We welcome the roadmap announced with the aim of preserving calm, ensuring stability, and preventing renewed conflict in Suwayda, one of Syria’s southern provinces,” the ministry said in a statement early Wednesday.

Türkiye will continue to support efforts that promote peace, security and stability for all components of Syria, based on the principles of respect for territorial integrity, unity and sovereignty, it added.

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani announced a seven-step roadmap Tuesday to resolve the crisis in Suwayda following talks in Damascus with his Jordanian counterpart Ayman Safadi and US envoy to Syria Tom Barrack.

Addressing a news conference, al-Shaibani said the plan seeks to ensure uninterrupted humanitarian and medical aid to Suwayda, restore essential services to enable a return to normal life, and deploy local security forces to secure roads and facilitate movement.

It also aims to compensate those affected and allow the return of displaced persons, clarify the fate of the missing, launch a reconciliation process that includes all communities in the province and hold accountable “all those whose hands are stained with assaults on civilians and their property,” he added.

Tuesday’s discussions build on earlier rounds hosted by Amman in July and August that focused on consolidating a ceasefire in Suwayda and finding a resolution to the conflict there.

Suwayda has observed a ceasefire since July 19 following a week of armed clashes between Druze groups and Bedouin tribes and Israeli military attacks.

WNAM REPORT: Türkiye’s benchmark stock index opened Tuesday at 11,034.02 points, up 0.31%, or 33.77 points, from the previous close.

On Monday, the BIST 100 surged 6.06% to 11,000.26 points, with a daily transaction volume of 201 billion Turkish liras ($4.85 billion).

As of 9.50 am local time (0650GMT) on Tuesday, exchange rates stood at 41.3270 Turkish liras to the US dollar, 48.7430 to the euro, and 56.3715 to the British pound.

The price of an ounce of gold was $3,690.05, while Brent crude oil was trading at $67.20 per barrel.

WNAM REPORT: Board meetings of SOCAR Türkiye and the Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP) were held in Istanbul.

During SOCAR Türkiye’s board meeting, participants conducted a comprehensive review of the company’s annual performance. They discussed major projects, progress in fulfilling strategic objectives, and investment plans for the near future.

Board members highlighted the impact of regional and global energy trends on the company’s operations, reaffirming SOCAR Türkiye’s commitment to sustainable growth, the adoption of innovative solutions, and strengthening its market position.

At the TANAP board meeting, the focus was on the project’s achievements and its significant contribution to ensuring energy security for Türkiye and Europe. Participants noted TANAP’s operational successes and its strategic role in shaping the regional energy landscape.

The board also outlined the goals and priorities for TANAP’s future development, including potential new areas of activity and long-term objectives.

WNAM REPORT: Türkiye’s premier technology event, TEKNOFEST, will begin in the Turkish metropolis of Istanbul next week, on Sept. 17.

The five-day event, hosted by Istanbul Ataturk Airport, is organized by the Turkish Technology Team (T3) Foundation and Türkiye’s Industry and Technology Ministry.

TEKNOFEST has been held since 2018 with the support of dozens of government bodies, private sector partners, and universities, and Anadolu continues to serve as a global communications partner for the festival.

Standing out with its annually renewed competition categories, TEKNOFEST will feature 58 main and 137 subcategories.

Teams that pass the preliminary stage will receive financial support in excess of 85 million lira (approximately $2 million), while those who finish first will receive prizes totaling more than 65 million lira ($1.6 million).

Participants from all over the world will share their knowledge and experience, making significant advances in the field of technology development.

From Sept. 17 to 21, TEKNOFEST is welcoming visitors not only with technology competitions but also with a wide array of spectacular events.

The festival will feature breathtaking air shows, various exhibitions and workshops, immersive simulation areas, a planetarium, trade fair activities, and special student flight events, bringing together a plethora of technological and exciting experiences.

People interested in attending the event can apply for free tickets on the TEKNOFEST website.

The event has traditionally taken place in various Turkish cities in even-numbered years and in Istanbul on odd-numbered years.

The event was also held in two foreign countries: Azerbaijan and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

Blue Homeland, TEKNOFEST’s maritime edition, was held in Istanbul last month.

The event in the southern Turkish city of Adana attracted approximately 1.1 million visitors in 2024, with a total attendance of around 11 million so far.

WNAM REPORT: Türkiye’s Foreign Ministry has welcomed the decision to dissolve the OSCE Minsk Process and its related structures, describing it as an important step in advancing peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

In a statement, the ministry highlighted that the decision, achieved through the joint efforts of Türkiye and Azerbaijan, marks a significant stage in the peace process between the two neighboring countries.

On September 1, the OSCE Ministerial Council formally adopted the decision to terminate the Minsk Process, which for decades served as a framework for negotiations on the Armenia–Azerbaijan conflict.

Ankara emphasized that the closure of the outdated structure underscores the progress made on the ground and reflects the reality of the new regional order shaped after the restoration of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity.

WNAM REPORT: Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Monday that the quickest way to end the suffering in Gaza is to reach a conclusion in the ongoing negotiation processes.

“We are at a point where humanity has completely failed the test on the Palestinian issue, on the Gaza issue. All foreign ministers are aware of this; we’ve reached the end of our path by using the tools of diplomacy.

“From now on, different actions and measures must be taken, and the international community must react more strongly because the system is completely bankrupt when it comes to Palestine and Gaza,” Fidan said after chairing an extraordinary meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers in the Saudi city of Jeddah.

Fidan attended the meeting as Türkiye currently holds the rotating presidency of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers.

The statements made by the participants in the closed session as well as the issues discussed later in bilateral meetings are important steps in further advancing the resolve, consensus and unity of forces among Islamic countries in resolving the Gaza and Palestine issues, he added.

“As we near the (UN) General Assembly week, it was important for us that Islamic countries take a position on the Palestinian issue with one voice, one mind, and one fist, explain the nuances of their opinions, form a unified view, and present new proposals to the international community as the bearers of this cause,” Fidan noted.

A resolution that was discussed in great detail has been adopted by all countries during a closed session, he said.

“When we look at (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu’s current policies, we see that he has no interest in any agreement. He has a strategy based entirely on stalling and advancing his military agenda and policies,” Fidan stressed.

Noting that the vast majority of the Islamic world has no relations with Israel, he highlighted that such an equation, while having immense significance for Islamic societies, falls short of creating a practical impact.

“Therefore, it is actually the countries that support Israel more — commercially, politically and militarily — that need to take a stance against it. In practice, that would serve as a stronger braking mechanism on Israel.

“Accordingly, what we are keeping on the agenda is not relations (or lack thereof) with Israel itself, but rather developing a strategy by using relations with the countries that support Israel and exerting pressure through that,” Fidan underscored.

Use of relations to restrain Israel at some point ‘essential’

Fidan noted that many of the 57 countries at the table have strong economic, political and security relations with the West, including the US, saying: “It is essential that these relations are used to restrain Israel at some point.”

“There are various ideas on this point. We have discussed them among ourselves.”

Referring to the diplomatic efforts, including by Türkiye, Fidan said it is particularly significant that these efforts dominated and guided the rhetoric regarding the process of recognizing the state of Palestine in the international arena.

“When this war began on October 7th (2023), we said that as long as the occupation of Palestine continues, as long as Israeli oppression continues, as long as Palestinians do not have a dignified, unified and sovereign state, it will neither be the first nor the last war in the Middle East between Palestinians and Israelis.

“In fact, there is a risk that this war will spread. Thereby, while concentrating on stopping the war in Gaza, we immediately brought forward a serious initiative to bring the two-state solution proposal off the shelf and into reality,” he said.

“Now, this strategy we have put forward has been largely determined and adopted by other countries as well because it is a permanent solution,” Fidan added, stressing that while trying to resolve the existing crisis in Gaza, a permanent solution must also be implemented.

This was actually a method that the international community, especially the West, initially resisted a little, but later, seeing no other way, accepted, “and we have now reached that point,” he underscored.

Emphasizing that while the international community is making progress under the leadership of the OIC, Fidan said Israel is making other calculations and taking steps to kill the idea of ​​a two-state solution.

“Many countries in the West are taking steps to recognize Palestine, motivated by public pressure from their own societies,” he said, adding that no one wants to be a part of this genocide.

– Bilateral meetings on sidelines of meeting

Referring to the bilateral meetings held on the sidelines of the meeting, Fidan said that they have important agendas with Egypt, Iraq, Syria, Iran and Africa.

He said that Gambia is a country in which Türkiye has invested intensely in military, economic and technical cooperation since the early 1990s.

Fidan noted that Ankara also has good relations with Djibouti.

Touching also on talks on Iran’s nuclear program, Fidan noted his recent talks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, saying: “We discussed this issue as well. We had the opportunity to discuss his new agenda in light of some comments from there.”

“We delved into certain details of the fight against terrorism, stressing also that there are important issues related to bilateral cooperation with Iraq initiated during the term of Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani.

In this regard, there is a dynamic agenda including projects put forward by businesspeople on many issues, including cooperation in the field of water, the development path, counterterrorism and energy cooperation, Fidan emphasized.

He also highlighted that potential aid and agreements for Gaza as well as many global issues were discussed with Egypt

Noting that he has frequent contacts with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan Al-Shaibani, Fidan said: “We have reaffirmed our commitment to Syria’s territorial integrity, sovereignty and security.”

“We also said this immediately after December 8th. An era has ended in Syria, another has begun, but no easier one has begun.”

“The challenge is much greater. The problem areas have become much more obvious, and a clearer era has begun. Türkiye’s responsibility here is immense.”

Emphasizing the need to collaborate with regional countries on numerous issues, particularly to protect Syria’s territorial integrity against Israeli attacks, he said there are various groups within the country that might serve the goals and objectives of certain international actors.

Fidan emphasized the need for effective management of these groups, noting that Syria also needs significant investment, the development of public capacity and the development of infrastructure.

Highlighting that while these issues will take time, he said the crucial factor is establishing the political and security environment in which they can be implemented.

“When the political and security environment is not established, when hesitations arise, when problems arise, progress in the other areas I have mentioned does not occur.

“Therefore, we are well aware of this. We have discussed with regional countries how we are taking these steps,” he added.

WNAM REPORT: As months pass, the Zangezur Corridor, recently rebranded as the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP), is starting to take concrete shape.

On August 22, Türkiye launched construction of the Kars-Iğdır-Aralık-Dilucu railway, a 224-kilometer line along the border with the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. The groundbreaking ceremony, held in Iğdır, was marked by remarks from Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu, who described the project as a strategic bridge linking Türkiye, Azerbaijan, and Armenia while enhancing connectivity across the vast corridor stretching from London to Beijing.

Beyond its physical infrastructure, the project carries strong geopolitical and economic implications. It bolsters Türkiye’s ambition to become a central geostrategic hub between Europe and Asia, while also signaling the possibility of new dynamics in regional cooperation—including with Armenia. If completed within the projected four to five years, the railway could significantly reshape trade flows, logistics efficiency, and the socio-economic landscape of the South Caucasus and beyond.

But how could the completion of this railway contribute to Türkiye’s trade and logistics capacity? And what role might it play within the broader London-to-Beijing transport belt and the Middle Corridor strategy pursued by Türkiye and Azerbaijan?

The Roots of the Project

“The groundbreaking ceremony for the Kars-Iğdır-Nakhchivan railway took place on August 22, 2025. However, feasibility studies for this route had already been initiated. In fact, the opening of this 224-kilometer railway is directly linked to the Garabagh Victory. After the war, Armenia verbally agreed—under Russian mediation—to open a corridor connecting Azerbaijan to Nakhchivan by road and rail. However, this agreement was never put into writing, and subsequent events such as the war in Ukraine and developments in Syria delayed progress. Despite this, Azerbaijan continued working on its side of the corridor, and Türkiye accelerated efforts on the Kars-Nakhchivan connection.”

Shifting Geopolitics and U.S. Involvement

“Later, it was decided that this corridor would open under U.S. supervision rather than Russian oversight. From the perspective of Türkiye and Azerbaijan, either option is acceptable as both states want the corridor opened. But in the long term, if the U.S. pursues goals such as military bases in Armenia, that would be destabilizing. This is also why Iran is so concerned.”

Gains for Armenia and Regional Trade

“What must be emphasized is that Armenia stands to gain the most. Without maritime links and with limited ties to Iran and Georgia, Armenia faces a difficult economic situation. The corridor would give it direct access to Türkiye and Azerbaijan, unlocking significant social, political, and economic advantages.”

“For Türkiye and Azerbaijan, the impact will also be substantial. Current bilateral trade is around $8 billion, but this figure could rise to $20 billion. The entire business community agrees on this. Moreover, additional links to Central Asia and alternative routes to the existing Kars-Tbilisi-Baku railway will strengthen resilience in regional logistics.”

Global Trade Impact

“With both the Kars-Iğdır-Nakhchivan-Baku line and the Kars-Tbilisi-Baku railway in operation, uninterrupted transportation from China to the EU could be achieved in just 18 days—shorter than any current land or sea route. This will be a game-changer for global trade. Türkiye and Azerbaijan will be the main beneficiaries, with Nakhchivan transforming into a major strategic hub.”

Regional Stability and Iran’s Role

“Yet, Iran’s exclusion remains a challenge. To ensure stability, Iran must be integrated into the process. For example, railway projects linking Armenia to Tabriz, or even extending from Tabriz to Erzurum and Trabzon, could include Iran and foster peace. In the long term, links through Nakhchivan could also connect to Pakistan via Ashgabat. This would create a truly regional railway network, strengthening peace and cooperation.”

Security, Capacity, and Strategic Future

“The new route offers significant security advantages compared to the Kars-Tbilisi-Baku line, as most of it passes through Turkish and Azerbaijani territory rather than Armenia. It is designed with a projected capacity of 5–15 million tons of freight annually, a figure that will increase over time. Therefore, the Zangezur Corridor, or TRIPP, represents not just a transport project, but the beginning of a new regional era. It is a corridor linking seas, continents, and ports—one that could redefine trade, cooperation, and peace in the region.”

WNAM REPORT: The Turkish Foreign Ministry on Thursday condemned Israel’s approval of plans to build settlements in the E1 area in the West Bank.

“This step, which will effectively separate the West Bank from East Jerusalem, disregards international law and United Nations resolutions; it targets the territorial integrity of the State of Palestine, the basis for a two-state solution, and hopes for lasting peace,” the Foreign Ministry said on Turkish social media platform Next Sosyal.

The statement highlighted that the only way to achieve a just and lasting peace in the region is with “the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian State with geographical integrity, based on the 1967 borders and with East Jerusalem as its capital.”

The Turkish Foreign Ministry reaffirmed its support for the Palestinian people’s just cause and determined struggle.

On Thursday, Israeli media reported that Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich approved the construction of 3,401 settler units in Ma’ale Adumim, east of Jerusalem, and 3,515 more in surrounding areas. The project aims to split the West Bank into two parts, severing connections between its northern and southern cities and isolating East Jerusalem.

In an advisory opinion last July, the International Court of Justice declared Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory illegal and called for the evacuation of all settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

WNAM REPORT: Scientists from Türkiye’s fifth expedition to the Arctic region conducted atmospheric and oceanic observations and recorded readings from the area throughout the voyage via an automatic, meteorological observation station established for the first time on the interpolar line.

The water vapor in the atmosphere and the interactions between the atmosphere and the ocean were analyzed using Global Navigation Satellite Signals (GNSS), while physical and chemical changes in different glacier regions were observed via water and ice samples.

To provide key data on climate change and sea level changes, oceanographic measurements were analyzed during the expedition.

Erhan Arslan, deputy leader of the expedition, told Anadolu that the team installed an automatic observation station on the ship to measure meteorological parameters at different points, from the Arctic to Antarctica.

Arslan stated that the data will be used to determine measurements for future expeditions and improve them.

“The project for modeling the relationship between the atmosphere and the amount of water in an atmospheric column using GNSS signals is a key step in calculating water vapors and other gases,” he noted, adding that the key data will enable a better understanding of climate change.

Adil Enis Arslan, a researcher participating in the expedition, told Anadolu that high-density and high-accuracy GNSS measurements at one-second intervals were conducted to examine the relationship between the atmosphere and the ocean.

Arslan noted that water and ice samples collected will be used for two projects to be conducted at Istanbul Technical University to determine the effects of global warming.

“These periodic observations will provide us with a data set to draw upon when making estimates between the same regions,” he said.

Lieutenant Mustafa Kanat from the Directorate of Navigation, Hydrography and Oceanography (SHOD) told Anadolu that the expedition provided necessary calculations to determine the seabed and the depth using multi-beam echo sounder systems, while using remote sensing systems and satellite-based bathymetric measurements to take transparency readings.

“This enables us to determine how deep a signal can reach from a satellite or an unmanned aerial vehicle based on its frequency spectrum,” he said.

WNAM REPORT: The return of a Roman-era statue of Emperor Marcus Aurelius to Türkiye marks the end of a 65-year campaign to retrieve the artifact looted from the ancient city of Boubon in southwestern Anatolia.

The operation, carried out in cooperation with the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office and US Homeland Security investigations, is seen as a milestone in Türkiye’s efforts to combat cultural property trafficking.

“This was one of the hardest cases we’ve ever dealt with,” said Zeynep Boz, head of the Department for Combating Illicit Trafficking of Cultural Property. “The return claim was initiated by Prof. Dr. Jale Inan, Türkiye’s first female archaeologist. It’s an honor to attribute this return to her legacy.”

Boz said art repatriation cases often take decades due to legal and evidentiary challenges and that many market countries treat antiquities as investment tools, unlike Türkiye, which views them as part of its cultural identity.

“These objects are not just about ownership; they’re often used in money laundering or to finance terrorism,” Boz said. “Repatriating them means not only restoring heritage, but also disrupting global criminal networks.”

‘Cinderella moment’

The collaboration with US authorities began in 2017 when Assistant District Attorney Matthew Bogdanos contacted Boz about the Kibele statue. Although that case was resolved diplomatically, it laid the foundation for a years-long partnership based on mutual trust, she said.

That cooperation culminated in the Boubon investigation, which confirmed the origins of dozens of looted Roman statues, including Marcus Aurelius, through eyewitness testimonies and 3D scanning.

“There was a Cinderella moment,” Boz recalled. “The Manhattan DA’s team was measuring the foot of a statue in New York while we were simultaneously measuring the pedestal in Boubon. The fit was millimeter-perfect.”

Witnesses now in their 80s were persuaded to testify after initial mistrust. Key evidence also came from the late journalist Ozgen Acar, who provided a criminal’s handwritten confession journal detailing the looting.

The statue had been held at the Cleveland Museum of Art before negotiations led to its return.

“When the silicone mold of Marcus’s foot fit perfectly on the original pedestal, that was the moment all efforts were validated,” Boz said.

Rebuttal to ‘colonist ideas’

Addressing criticism that returned artifacts might have been better protected abroad, Boz pushed back against what she called “colonist ideas.”

She pointed out that the argument of guardianship often masks the original act of theft.

“Nobody says that ‘I stole it.’ Instead, they say, ‘Hey, I’m the guardian of it,’” she said.

Emphasizing Türkiye’s heritage stewardship, she added: “If we were not good at protection, would you really be able to go to ancient sites during your summer holiday? Or find a museum to visit?”

While she acknowledged the need for constant improvement in prevention efforts, Boz stressed that Türkiye’s current level of preservation “is not that humble.”