FM Cavusoglu to Meet French Counterpart, Discuss Turkey-EU Relations

LOCAL NEWS

• FM Cavusoglu to meet with French counterpart in 2-day visit starting today. Bi-lateral relations with France and the EU will be discussed and views on current issues.
  • Both countries remain at odds over Syria and Libya and treatment of Frances Islamic minority
• Greece warns Turkey is will seek EU support for sanctions against it if it continues "hostile" and "provocative threats" following Erdogan's defence of the opening of the Hagia Sophia as a mosque – deeply upsetting the Greek orthodox community
• Erodgan says Turkey discovered 135bn cubic meters of natural gas in the Black Sea, raising the total discovery to 540bn cubic m.
  • Ankara aims to deliver gas from the Sakayara field to its main grid in 2023 with sustained plateau production by 2027/8.
  • A 160km pipeline will be required to be built in the near-term
• Independent research group (ENAG) reports inflation at 3.94% m/m vs TUIK's 0.89%.
  • ENAG warns FX pressure, an import-heavy production process & weak CBRT reserve formation will be the biggest drivers of inflation in the upcoming period
• CHP calls for investigative commission over Mafia boss Sedat Peker's claims against interior minister Soylu, including: organised crime, drug & weapons trafficking and evading arrest warrants
• ECHR says on Saturday that Turkey must comply with judgements of the court, including the release of Selahattin Demirtas and Osman Kavala.
  • European Council meeting 7-9 June is set to review the Turkish Govt's failure to implement ECHR judgements