Turkish Foreign Ministry condemns attacks on Turkmen

Turkey’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned recent attacks on Turkmen in Iraq in a written statement on Friday. According to the ministry’s statement, Turkmen living in Iraqi provinces of Mosul, Saladin and Kirkuk have been victims of terrorism, which has intensified in recent days. “At least five Turkmen farmers were killed by unidentified people yesterday in Iraq’s [northwestern] Mosul province,” said the statement.

Another four Turkmen were killed and six were injured on May 28 in Iraq’s north province of Saladin after the Turkmen’s houses were targeted with numerous bombs attacks, according to the ministry. The Turkish Foreign Ministry condemns all forms of terrorism, no matter who is the target and of what origin. 

- Turkish EU negotiator visits Germany

Turkey’s EU Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu met with members of the Union of European Turkish Democrats (UETD) in Cologne, Germany on Thursday. Cavusoglu said the the group has come a long way in 10 years and gained respect not only in Turkey but in different parts of the world.

Turkish citizens living in Europe welcomed Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s visit to the city last week, Cavusoglu said. Turkey’s first round of presidential elections will be held on August 10, during which Turkey’s next president will be elected by the people for the first time, including citizens abroad, according to Cavusoglu. "Our [brothers and sisters] living abroad are saying, ‘I’m going to vote in this election; I will have my say," he added. 

Erdogan has not officially announced that he will run for the presidential elections.