Speaking to Russian news agency Sputnik, Syrian Deputy FM Mekdad described Turkish Armed Forces’ presence in Syria as “hostility” and said, “we urge Ankara to withdraw its forces from Syria”.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has released a statement about the Hakan Atilla case concluded in the US. The ministry qualified the verdict as “an unfair and unfortunate development”.

President of France Macron has delivered a message on freedom of the press ahead of President Erdoğan’s visit. Macron stressed the liabilities of Turkey and Russia arising from European Convention on Human Rights.

Former Halkbank Deputy General Director Atilla has been found guilty of five counts of six charges. Atilla was acquitted of money laundering.

Richard Giragosian, the President of the Regional Studies Center located in Yerevan, Armenia, has talked to bianet about the nullification of the political protocols between Turkey and Armenia.

It was announced in the final declaration of the OIC’s Istanbul summit that East Jerusalem is Palestine’s capital. In the declaration, a call was made to the international community to recognize this decision.

The seventh hearing in the trial of then Halkbank Deputy General Director Mehmet Hakan Atilla charged with evading US sanctions on Iran, was held on December 7. Testifying as a witness Reza Zarrab confirmed that the piano and the wrist watch he gave to then Minister of Economy Zafer Çağlayan was a bribe to work with Halkbank.

In the “US Against Atilla” trial heard in Federal Court in Manhattan, cross examination of Reza Zarrab continued. Zarrab said that he was shocked when then Halkbank Deputy General Director Atilla was arrested.

The fifth hearing in the trial of then Halkbank Deputy General Director Mehmet Hakan Atilla charged with evading US sanctions on Iran, was held on December 5. Testifying as a witness, under cross-examination, Reza Zarrab confirmed that Atilla did not ask him for any bribe.

The 4th hearing in the trial of then Halkbank Deputy General Director Atilla charged with evading US sanctions on Iran, was held on December 4. Testifying as a witness, Zarrab confirmed that he bribed his way out of prison after getting arrested in the December 17-25 corruption and bribery investigations.

EU Counter-Terrorism Coordinator Gilles de Kerchove speaking to Reuters about Turkey accusing Gülen Community of masterminding the July 15 coup attempt said: “As for FETÖ, we don’t see it as a terrorist organization, and I don’t believe the EU is likely to change its position soon” and added the EU needed needed concrete evidence to change its mind.

Following the meeting with President Putin and Rouhani in Sochi, Russia, concerning the crisis in Syria, Erdoğan has stated that participation from all segments of Syria is required and underlined that PYD and YPG should not be included.

Following their meeting in Sochi, Russia concerning the crisis in Syria, Presidents Putin, Erdoğan and Rouhani have adapted a joint declaration. The focus of declaration was Syria's territorial integrity.

Claiming that they have received “initial high-level assurances from the Government of Turkey” that there are / will be “no additional local employees of their Mission in Turkey under investigation”, US Mission to Turkey has announced the resumption of limited visa services in Turkey. Turkey denied claims of any assurance.

In the press conference held following the meeting, President Erdoğan and Iraqi PM Abadi said that they discussed regional issues.

Spokesperson for the US Department of State Nauert has said Daily Sabah reporter Soylu “works for government-private partnership publication”.

US Department of State Spokesperson Nauert as to Osman Kavala and 19 activists, attorney and journalists being detained in Ankara yesterday, said that they had been following these case closely and that the detentions in Turkey were often made with very little or no evidence at all.

US Department of State Spokesperson has said that they hope that Turkey is not trying to create distance with the US and they hope they can have a dialogue with the government.

President Erdoğan has insisted on holding US Bass accountable for the visa crisis with the US despite US Department of State Spokesperson saying “White House coordinated the decision”.

Concerning the allegations that a US Embassy staff hiding in the embassy, US Ambassador to Turkey Bass has said, “There is no one hiding in the US missions. We are not trying to hide anyone from the jurisdiction”.