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Turks talking about a Trump visit in July. “Notable perhaps that the Turkish side are putting it out that after the Trump-Erdogan call earlier this week that Erdogan extended, and Trump accepted, an invitation to visit Turkey. The Turks are talking about a visit in July—I guess by that time, the Russian S400s will be in place and able to protect Airforce 1 from any ‘in-comings’. Obviously the US side has not confirmed the visit... Just a thought, but given Trump loves bling, real estate and construction—actually, Erdogan I think could really impress/out-bling Trump with his presidential palace in Ankara. I finally realise why [Turkish Finance Minister and Erdogan son-in-law Berat] Albayrak and [Trump senior adviser and son-in-law Jared] Kushner seem to get on so well— as they both live/breathe real estate and construction, and bank credit has been part of this whole gig,” Timothy Ash of BlueBay Asset Management said in a note to investors. Erdogan wants Trump to veto any sanctions the S- 400 acquisition might trigger.
Official relays “positive signals” Trump may accept invitation to visit Turkey. Erdogan has invited Donald Trump to Turkey and there are “positive signals” the American president may accept the invitation, a senior Turkish official was cited on saying on May 22 by Reuters. The unnamed official added that if Trump opts not to come to Turkey in the near future the two presidents might anyway have a face-to-face meeting on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Japan next month.
Turkey’s Erdogan and Trump agree to meet on sidelines of end-of-June G20 summit. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and US President Donald Trump agreed during a phone call on May 29 to meet on the sidelines of a G20 summit set for June 28-29 in Japan, the Turkish Presidency's communications director said in posts on Twitter. There was no word of Trump’s response to an invitation from Erdogan to visit Turkey in the near future.
Turkish-American former Nasa scientist Serkan Golge has been released from jail with conditions. The detention of Golge has been one of several difficult issues complicating relations between the US and Turkey in the past year, adding to jitters on the fragile and volatile Turkish markets. The freeing of Golge would be a step in the right direction to ease tensions. Earlier this year, Golge was found guilty of being a member of an armed terrorist organisation and sentenced to seven and a half years in prison. The sentence was later cut to five years by an appeals court which found him guilty of aiding a terrorist organisation rather than of being a member of one. Golge has always pleaded his innocence of all the charges. Turkey’s Court of Cassation, a higher appeals court, upheld Golge’s sentence for aiding a terrorist organisation, but ruled to release him due to time he has already served, according to the verdict, seen by the news agency. However, judicial control attached to the ruling mean he is not allowed to leave the country and will have to regularly report to local authorities. Golge was visiting family in southern Turkey when he was arrested. His arrest came during the massive crackdown that followed the failed military coup of July 2016. Ankara blames supporters of Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, who is self-exiled in the US, for orchestrating the coup effort. Gulen has strenuously denied he or his followers were involved.
Several cases against US consulate employees and citizens in Turkey on terrorism charges have been a major bone of contention between the Nato allies, with the most prominent—that of US pastor Andrew Brunson, who was eventually allowed to return home to the US late last year—even causing Washington to impose sanctions on Turkish ministers. Two US senators last month introduced a bipartisan bill requiring that sanctions be imposed on Turkish officials responsible for detaining citizens and local consulate staff in Turkey.
One US consulate employee was sentenced to jail in January, but was released due to time served during his trial. The cases of two other consulate employees are proceeding.
17 TURKEY Country Report June 2019 www.intellinews.com