Turkish diplomatic sources said that Ankara supports Palestine obtaining full membership in the United Nations.

The sources said on Wednesday that Palestine must obtain the approval of the UN Security Council and the support of two-thirds of the members of the UN General Assembly for its full membership.

It indicated that Algeria will submit a draft resolution for Palestine to gain full membership during the next UN Security Council meeting.

It pointed out that the issue has not been presented to the Council until today due to expectations that the United States of America will use its veto power against the draft law.

It stated that “Washington intends to use its veto against the draft resolution that Algeria will submit.”

The sources confirmed that “recent developments show that the issue of recognizing a Palestinian state is enjoying increasing support in the international community.”

It added: “Turkey has always been one of the strongest supporters of this issue and was a pioneer in Palestine obtaining the status of an observer member by the General Assembly’s decision in 2012, and during this stage we will also support the recognition of Palestine in all our meetings.”

The American administration had indicated its intention to use its veto power if Palestine’s full membership in the United Nations was proposed.

Earlier Wednesday, the US representative to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, said that she “does not believe that full membership of Palestine in the United Nations will help achieve a two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.”

Palestine obtained the status of a non-member observer state at the United Nations after a resolution adopted by the General Assembly by a large majority on November 29, 2012.

Palestine applied for full membership in the United Nations in 2011, but this application did not receive the necessary support in the UN Security Council.

On April 2, the Permanent Representative of Palestine to the United Nations, Riyad Mansour, sent a letter to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, requesting that the membership application be reconsidered.

The Security Council will vote on Thursday on a draft resolution regarding Palestine gaining full membership in the United Nations instead of “non-member observer” status.

Obtaining full membership requires the approval of 9 member states of the Security Council (15 countries), provided that none of the five veto countries, namely the United States, Russia, France, Britain, and China, object.

If the Council approves, the membership application will be referred to the General Assembly, and it must obtain two-thirds of the votes of the Assembly, which is composed of 193 countries, 139 of which recognize the State of Palestine.

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During January and February 2024, about 4.3 million tourists visited Turkey, led by Iranians, Russians, and Bulgarians.

According to data from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, 4 million 341 thousand 606 foreigners visited Turkey during last January and February.

Iranians came at the top of the list with 473,905 people, followed by Russians with 433,654, and then Bulgarians with 345,301.

Istanbul topped the states through which tourists entered Turkey, followed by Edirne and then Antalya.

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Turkey’s medical tourism revenues achieved $2.3 billion in 2023, ranking seventh globally in this field.

The Ministry of Commerce stated in a statement on Monday that the “Health in Turkey” electronic portal is the face of the Turkish brand in the medical tourism sector.

The statement explained that the Health in Turkey website includes 175 institutions operating in the medical tourism sector, with the number of requests to participate in the portal increasing day after day.

It added that Turkey ranks 7th globally in the field of medical tourism through 40 health institutions holding international certificates, which contributes positively to Turkey’s preference in the sector at the global level.

The statement stated that the countries of the Middle East, Germany, the United Kingdom, Russia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Afghanistan are at the forefront of the countries from which Turkey receives visitors for the purpose of medical tourism.

It confirmed achieving revenues of $1.9 billion from the health services sector in 2022, which rose to $2.3 billion in 2023 by receiving 1.4 million health tourists.

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Georgia’s ambassador to Ankara, George Janjgava, said that his country’s foreign trade volume with Turkey rose by 6 percent in 2023 to reach $3 billion.

Janjgava explained in a statement that this figure constitutes 13.5 percent of Georgia’s total annual foreign trade volume, which amounts to $22 billion.

He pointed out that Turkey is a good neighbor and a friendly country to Georgia and that it is also a strategic partner.

He stressed that relations between the two countries are developing in all fields and sectors, noting that the two countries celebrated in 2022 the thirtieth anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between them.

He pointed to Ankara’s role as a mediator in the Russian-Ukrainian war, describing Turkey as a “leading country” at the regional and international levels.

He continued: “Thanks to its strong administration and economy, Turkey is making the necessary efforts to contribute positively to regional and global peace.”

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For the tenth year in a row, Turkey maintained first place in the world in wheat flour exports by the end of 2022.

According to information, global wheat production reached 773 million tons in the 2020-2021 season, an increase of 1.4 percent compared to the previous season.

The reason for this is the increased production of some countries such as Russia, Kazakhstan, Australia, and Canada.

Production reached 781 million tons in the 2021-2022 season thanks to an increase in China, the European Union, Australia, India and Ukraine.

Turkey is among the countries in the world that can meet its own consumption in wheat production.

While wheat production in the country reached 22 million tons last year, Turkey ranked first in the world by exporting approximately 3.7 million tons of flour in this period.

On the other hand, according to the latest World Bank data, Turkey continued to rank first in wheat flour exports in the period between 2013-2022.

Turkey exported 2.1 million tons of wheat flour in 2013, and exports continued to increase until 2016, when they reached 3.5 million tons.

Although exports declined between 2017 and 2021, this did not affect Turkey’s leading position in global exports.

Turkish flour exports recorded 3.1 million tons in 2022.

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Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on Wednesday that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is a major player who is respected in the region and the entire world.

This came in a press conference held in Poland, in which he participated via video conference technology.

Kuleba added, “We do not reject the intervention of any country that wishes to contribute to ending the war between us and Russia.”

He expressed his country’s desire for everyone, including China, Turkey and other countries, to participate in the peace summit scheduled to be held to end the war.

Kuleba continued, saying: “So far, Turkey is the only country capable of talking to the Russian and Ukrainian sides.”

He added, “We are now focusing on holding a peace summit that will bring everyone together and discuss outstanding issues such as nuclear security, freedom of navigation, commercial navigation, and the exchange of prisoners, which no one can oppose.”

Kuleba refused to accuse his country of involvement in the terrorist attack that occurred in the Russian capital last Friday.

He explained that Russia is doing everything it can to distort Ukraine’s image.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Russian authorities announced that the death toll from the terrorist attack that took place in a concert hall in Crocus City in the capital, Moscow, had risen to 140 dead and 360 injured.

Russia witnessed a national mourning on Sunday for the victims of the terrorist attack, and flags were flown at half-mast, while Moscow residents placed flower bouquets in the Crocus Hall, where gunmen opened fire.

The Federal Security Service reported in a statement on Monday the arrest of 11 people, including 4 terrorists directly involved in the attack, and that efforts are continuing to identify their accomplices.​​​​​​

On Tuesday, the head of the Federal Security Service, Alexander Bortnikov, accused the United States, Britain, and Ukraine of being behind the attack, but the terrorist organization ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack on Friday.

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A Russian official said on Wednesday that his country is discussing with Turkey the possibility of building a second nuclear power plant in the northern state of Sinop.

This was reported by Kirill Komarov, Deputy Director General of the Russian Nuclear Energy Corporation “Rosatom” during a press conference in Sochi.

Komarov expressed Russia’s desire for the experience gained from the Akkuyu nuclear station project in the southern Turkish state of Mersin to be reflected in the construction of the next station in Sinop.

He stressed that the Akkuyu nuclear station is one of the very important projects for Russia in terms of responsibility and investment.

He added that all four units are scheduled to be completed by the end of 2028, noting the intensive work on the first unit.

Komarov pointed out that they are all looking forward to the moment when the Turkish electricity grid will be supplied with the first stream of nuclear energy.

He explained that the Turkish economy is developing at a good level and that the need for electricity increases every year, and accordingly, setting goals for the development of nuclear energy in Turkey is a very positive step.

Akkuyu is Turkey’s first nuclear power plant and one of the largest investments in the country.

In addition to Sinop, Ankara is also holding discussions with China regarding the establishment of a third nuclear power plant in the Thrace region, northwest of the country.

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The Turkish Foreign Ministry on Friday condemned the terrorist attack on a concert hall in the Russian capital, Moscow.

The Foreign Ministry said in a statement that it received with deep sorrow the news of the killing and wounding of many people in an armed attack in Moscow.

The statement said: “We strongly condemn the heinous terrorist attack that targeted innocent civilians inside a concert hall in Moscow.”

The Turkish Foreign Ministry offered its deep condolences to the Russian people and government for the victims of the attack.

In turn, Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz condemned the terrorist attack in Moscow through a post on the “X” platform.

He expressed his strong condemnation of the terrorist attack on a concert hall in the Russian capital, which led to the death and injury of many people.

Yilmaz stressed that “terrorism that targets innocent civilians anywhere in the world and by anyone is a crime against humanity.”

The Turkish Vice President offered his condolences to the Russian government and people for the victims of the attack, wishing a speedy recovery for the injured.

Earlier Friday, the Russian Federal Security Service announced that 40 people were killed and at least 100 others were injured, according to preliminary data, as a result of an “armed terrorist attack” on a concert hall in Moscow.

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Turkish Intelligence Chief Ibrahim Kalin left Turkey heading to Washington, DC, to hold meetings with American officials.

According to the information obtained, Kalin will meet with the head of the CIA, William Burns, and he will also meet with American officials in the White House, Congress, and the State Department.

Kalin is expected to discuss with American officials bilateral relations in addition to the fight against the PKK, ISIS, and Gulen terrorist organizations.

The files in Syria and Iraq and stopping the war on Gaza will also be presented on the agenda of the meetings.

Also, the head of Turkish intelligence will discuss with American officials the war between Russia and Ukraine and the situation in the Caucasus.

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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday that his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, valued Turkey’s positions on the international scene.

This came in press statements after his participation in a meeting at the Justice and Development Party headquarters in Ankara.

In response to a question about the phone call between him and President Putin and the date of the latter’s expected visit to Turkey, President Erdogan stated that the visit “is not in the near future,” but Putin informed him that he “will conduct the visit without delay.”

President Erdogan also pointed out that Putin expressed his deep welcome for Turkey’s positions on the international arena.

On Monday, Putin congratulated President Erdogan on his birthday in a phone call and thanked him for his contributions to strengthening Turkish-Russian relations.

Regarding whether his recent meeting with two members of the US Senate opens the door to Turkey’s return to the F-35 fighter program, President Erdogan stated that Ankara is currently focusing on the issue of F-16 fighters more than the F-35.

He said: “We discussed with members of the US Senate the steps we will take regarding the F-16 aircraft,” referring to the recent visit made by Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Chris Murphy to Turkey.

It is noteworthy that the US Congress recently gave the green light to sell 40 new F-16 fighters to Turkey, in addition to modernizing its current fleet of F-16 fighters.

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