Keeping an eye on Turkey for the month of November 2017

Never forget Erdogan conspired with Syria's enemies to destroy Syria and its people. Until Erdogan gets his comeuppance,  I won't feel  satisfaction.

Turkey's first humanoid robotics factory opens in Konya province
Turkey's first factory which will produce human-like robots opened in central Konya province Saturday.

AkinRobotics, a humanoid robotics factory, was established by AkinSoft software company.

The factory has started mass production, said AkinSoft Board Chairman Özgür Akin, speaking at the inauguration ceremony, which was attended by employees and technology enthusiasts.

He added that none of the robot factories around the world have yet started mass production.

The new generation human-robots -- named "Ada GH5" -- will be programmed for use at malls, fairs, airports, hospitals, and even at homes, Akin said.........

Turkish PM warns US Muslims against FETÖ terrorism
Binali Yildirim warns US Muslims to steer clear of schools, cultural centers affiliated with FETÖ terrorist network
There is no difference between Daesh and the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETÖ), said Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim on Thursday, adding that both terror groups flout the sacred values of Islam.

Both terrorist groups have threatened the peace in Muslim countries, Yildirim told a crowd in a speech at the Diyanet Center of America (DCA), also known as the Turkish-American Community Center and Mosque Complex in Lanham, Maryland....

Erdogan says those who see no military solution in Syria should pull troops out
Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday that those who do not believe in a military solution in Syria should pull their troops out, after Russia and the United States said no military solution was possible in Syria.

"I am having trouble understanding these comments. If a military solution is out of the question, then those who say this should pull their troops out," Erdogan told reporters before flying to Russia..........

Erdogan accuses US of financing ISIS, breaking promises in Syria
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has accused Washington of betraying Ankara and providing "a lot of dollars" to the Islamic State terrorists. The allegation comes just days after the US acknowledged that it allowed hundreds of armed ISIS militants to escape the besieged Syrian city of Raqqa....

Turks following Erdogan's call as they get rid of dollars and buy gold
One year ago, Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan called on the Turkish public to keep their savings in gold and avoid the US dollar. The latest World Gold Council report shows the Turkish public following Erdogan’s call. The report shows Turkey has ramped up gold buying with both the central bank and ordinary people doing so....

Rising oil prices add to Turkey’s economic woes
Atop an inflation rate stuck at 11%, an urban unemployment rate above 13%, a current account deficit close to 5% of gross domestic product (GDP), a growing budget deficit and a rapidly depreciating currency, Turkey is now being hit by an increase in global energy prices coupled with a rise in prices for metals and minerals.

Erdogan’s chief adviser calls for Turkey’s NATO membership to be reconsidered – local media

Simple apology’ is not enough: Insulted Erdogan on NATO ‘impudence’ over enemy-chart scandal
Tensions between the military bloc and Turkey escalated last week when Turkey’s founding leader, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, and current president Recep Tayyip Erdogan were depicted as “enemies” during NATO drills in Norway. Erdogan said the incident was an attack targeting “Turkey and the Turkish nation.”
“What [NATO] did is a scandal,” the Turkish leader told a ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) provincial congress in the eastern province of Bayburt on Sunday, Hurriyet reported. “They know that they cannot stop our country, which is why they are putting us on a target board. I hope that those who welcomed attacks against us before now understand the real face of the matter, as Ataturk was also included.”

“The issue is not a personal or party issue. The target is Turkey and the Turkish nation,” he noted....

Erdogan denounces opposition party ‘lies’ about family’s offshore transfers 
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan denounced as “lies” claims that his family sent millions of dollars to a company in a tax haven, adding he would file a complaint. Opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) chief Kemal Kilicdaroglu alleged on Tuesday that members of the president’s family transferred around $15 million to Bellway Limited, based in the low-tax British Crown Dependency of the Isle of Man, AFP reported. “The five names absolutely did not send money to the company or place mentioned,” Erdogan said on Wednesday, adding: “Not one penny has been sent abroad.” The president called on the CHP leader to share the documents with the people and prosecutors. Erdogan also accused the CHP of no longer being the main opposition, but “the party of treason.”

Zarrab fingers Erdogan in NY trial bombshell
Turkey’s government kicked into full defensive gear today as Reza Zarrab, an Iranian-Turkish gold trader, prepared to stand witness before a New York jury for a second day, continuing his account of a billion-dollar scam to smuggle gold for oil in violation of US sanctions on Iran and in collusion with top Turkish officials. The trial continued at the Federal District Court in Manhattan with allegations of further government malfeasance. The proceedings took a further sensational turn when Zarrab said Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and former Economy Minister Ali Babacan had signed off on the scheme. “The prime minister at that time, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, … had given instructions, had given an order, for [Ziraat and Vakif banks] to start doing the trade,” Zarrab testified. He dropped this bombshell as allegations of further government corruption swirled at home.