Off the wire
• U.S. new home sales jumped in April  • Gold down sharply on good U.S. data, strengthening U.S. equities  • Surgery should be standard treatment option for diabetes: guidelines  • S. African minister wants to criminalize racism by amending Constitution  • Austrian gov't announces projects centered on five key themes  • Norway expected to increase electricity exports in 2030: report  • IMF raises French 2016 growth forecast, demands further reforms  • Lithuania's AviaAM and China's HNCA form aircraft leasing joint venture  • U.S. dollar rises on positive economic data  • China's top security official calls for concerted anti-terror efforts  
You are here: 　 Home

New Turkish PM signals foreign policy change

Xinhua, May 25, 2016 Adjust font size:

Turkey's new Prime Minister, Binali Yildirim, suggested a comprehensive shift in foreign policy such as restoring ties with countries like Russia, Israel and Egypt in the near future.

Yildirim read out his cabinet's program in the parliament after receiving a presidential mandate to form a government on Tuesday.

He pledged to make efforts to "normalize relations and develop ties on common interests meeting on a common ground with Russia with keeping mutual dialogue channels open."

Moscow and Ankara have been at odds since the latter shot down a Russian warplane in 2015 claiming it violated its national airspace.

The new government plans to consolidate political and economic cooperation with the Asia-pacific region through establishing industry-specific partnerships with the Association of Southeast Nations (ASEAN).

Yildirim stressed that his government will enhance economic relations with Iran after international sanctions have been lifted off Tehran.

The new prime minister did not mention ties with Israel although both countries are reportedly close to reaching an agreement to normalize relations between them.

Relations between Turkey and Israel deteriorated after Israeli soldiers killed nine Turks when a Turkish humanitarian aid ship attempted to breach the embargo against the Gaza Strip in 2010.

Yildirim also prioritized introducing a new constitution and changing the country's political system to an executive presidential one, and called on opposition parties to cooperate together in establishing the country's charter.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will chair the new government's first cabinet meeting at the presidential palace on Wednesday, a symbolic move signaling Erdogan's de facto executive presidency.

The new government is expected to receive a vote of confidence on Sunday following the parliamentary session on Friday.

Given the fact that the Justice and Development party (AKP) has the majority of seats in parliament, it is highly likely that the new government will receive the vote of confidence. Endit