Crowds have been lining the streets of Istanbul to watch a parade marking Republic Day.

The Republic of Turkey was founded 91 years ago by soldier-tuned-politician Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.

It came as the country emerged from its imperial days under the Ottoman Empire, following its collapse during World War I.

Pomp, ceremony and stamping feet.

Bands parade through the streets of Istanbul.

This parade is marking the 91st anniversary of the foundation of modern Turkey.

On 29 October 1923, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, a military officer who fought against the British in Gallipoli, founded the modern Turkish Republic - which would be based on democracy, secularism, nationalism and equality for women.

Mehmet Karli, Professor of law at Galatasary University says Mustafa and his followers "changed the political system."

"On the 29th of October, they declared the foundation of the Republic of Turkey, therefore, the end of the Ottoman Empire and the end of the Ottoman Dynasty. But of course, the declaration of Republic, and following reforms, the republican reforms, they are not solely, they are not only about a change of governmental system," he adds.

But reforms brought in by the pro-Islamic Justice and Democracy Party (AKP), which has been in power for more than a decade, have left some in society questioning whether values of the Republic of Turkey have been eroded.

"There is a certain reaction within certain sections of society as against the policies of the present government. AKP has been in power for the last 12 years, and it has become clear that they are promoting different values than the ideals of Republic," says Karli.

"The ideals of Republic, I just tried to describe them, secularism, westernisation, equal role for the women, a peaceful and pacifist policy in its region and respecting the equality of other states in its region, and all these things. Those were the republican ideals, and a lot of people feel that those ideals are under attack by the AKP government."

Dignitaries salute the crowds gathered here in Istanbul including 1st Army Commander, Salih Zeki Colak; Istanbul's governor, Vasip Sahin; and Istanbul's mayor, Kadir Topbas.

AP Television

Istanbul, Turkey - 29 October 2014

1. Wide of march, band from air force academy

2. Close-up of boots marching

3. Pan left across march, pull out

4. Mid of audience

5. Mid of marching band of Kuleli Military High School

6. Close-up of faces, Commander of the 1st Army, Salih Zeki Colak (left); Istanbul governor, Vasip Sahin (middle); Istanbul mayor, Kadir Topbas (right), in background

7. Wide of march of students from naval high school

8. Close-up of boots marching

9. Various of infantryman

10. Various of tanks

11. Wide of students from Istanbul High School marching

12. Close-up of students

13. Mid of military brass band

14. Wide of marching band of Fatih Female Anatolian Religious Vocational High School

15. Mid of marching band of International Fatih Sultan Mehmet Religious Vocational High School

16. Mid of march of Turkish World Research Foundation

++NIGHT SHOTS++

17. Various of Mehmet Karli stood on balcony of office

18. SOUNDBITE: (English) Mehmet Karli, Professor of law, Galatasary University:

"Mustafa Kemal Ataturk and his followers, they changed the political system in Turkey 91 years ago, and on the 29th of October, they declared the foundation of the Republic of Turkey, therefore, the end of the Ottoman Empire and the end of the Ottoman Dynasty. But of course, the declaration of the Republic, and following reforms, the republican reforms, they are not solely, they are not only about a change of governmental system."

19. Cutaway of hands

20. SOUNDBITE: (English) Mehmet Karli, Professor of law, Galatasary University:

"There is a certain reaction within certain sections of society as against the policies of the present government. AKP has been in power for the last 12 years, and it has become clear that they are promoting different values than the ideals of the Republic. The ideals of the Republic, I just tried to describe them, secularism, westernisation, equal role for the woman, a peaceful and pacifist policy in its region and respecting the equality of other states in its region, and all these things. Those were the republican ideals, and a lot of people feel that those ideals are under attack by the AKP government."

21. Various of audience at parade

22. Wide of Commander of the 1st Army, Salih Zeki Colak (left); Istanbul governor, Vasip Sahin; Istanbul mayor, Kadir Topbas saluting the crowds from a military jeep

SHOTLIST

++PART MUTE++

1. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu walking out on balcony ++MUTE++

2. Wide of Lavrov and Davutoglu walking into news conference, zoom in as they sit down

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Sergey Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister:

"We all need to improve confidence in this six plus one process, and if this deal is implemented, I think we would make an important first step."

4. Cutaway of Lavrov and Davutoglu

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Sergey Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister:

"We (Russia) never supported unilateral sanctions. And we believe that if all countries who are participating in the negotiations with Iran agreed to work in the security council, and to stick together, to develop collective approaches, then any unilateral sanctions would be only serving as spoilers and would be undermining the basis for joint effort."

6. Cutaway of Lavrov and Davutoglu

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Ahmet Davutoglu, Turkish Foreign Minister:

"We will provide all the facilities for a successful meeting and negotiations in Istanbul. And we hope that at the end of the meeting there will be good news for everybody, because we believe that through a sophisticated intensified negotiation, a concrete result, positive results could be achieved."

8. Pull out to wide of Lavrov and Davutoglu leaving news conference

9. Wide of US delegation leaving Ataturk airport in Istanbul

10. Various of convoy, sign reading (English) "USA" in window

11. US convoy driving away

12. Saeed Jalili, Iran's chief nuclear negotiator (man wearing black, with glasses), walking through the airport

13. Wide of Jalili leaving the airport and getting into car

14. Tracking shot of convoy driving away

15. Tracking shot of convoy carrying Catherine Ashton, EU foreign affairs chief, driving into Ciragan Hotel where nuclear talks are scheduled to take place

16. Wide of Ashton and EU delegation walking into entrance of Ciragan hotel

17. Saeed Jalili, Iran's chief nuclear negotiator, arriving at Ciragan hotel

18. Tracking shot of Jalili walking into hotel, getting inside elevator, elevator doors close

STORYLINE:

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met his Turkish counterpart in Istanbul on Thursday, as international delegations began arriving for talks between Iran and world powers about Tehran's uranium enrichment programme.

On Friday, nuclear negotiations begin between Iran and the US, Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China in Istanbul.

In a news conference, Lavrov was positive about the potential outcome of the talks.

"We all need to improve confidence in this six plus one process," Lavrov said, "and if this deal is implemented, I think we would make an important first step."

The deal to which Lavrov referred concerns an offer that Russia has made to Iran concerning the supply and transportation of fuel in exchange for Iran fully co-operating with the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) recommendations.

Lavrov said that Iran has not yet responded.

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu was also optimistic about the talks.

"We believe that through a sophisticated intensified negotiation, a concrete result, positive results could be achieved," he said on Thursday.

The six powers have been trying to get Iran to address growing international concerns, especially by the US and its Western allies, that it is pursuing nuclear weapons - not nuclear energy as the government insists.

The US is publicly confident that international efforts have slowed Tehran's capacity to make nuclear arms and created more time to press Tehran to accept curbs on its atomic activities.

The United Nations Security Council slapped a fourth round of sanctions on Iran last year over its refusal to stop enriching uranium.

However on Tuesday, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Tehran was making steady progress in its "nuclear energy" programme, and warned that no amount of UN Security Council resolutions would derail his country's nuclear ambitions.

The Russian foreign minister said that the sanctions were "counterproductive".

"If all countries who are participating in the negotiations with Iran agreed to work in the security council, and to stick together, to develop collective approaches, then any unilateral sanctions would be only serving as spoilers and would be undermining the basis for joint effort," Lavrov said on Thursday.

Lavrov, who arrived on Wednesday, was also expected to discuss new cooperation opportunities with Turkey, as well as regional issues, according to the Anatolia news agency.

Meanwhile, key negotiators from the US, the European Union and Iran arrived in Istanbul for the two-day talks.

Saeed Jalili, Iran's chief nuclear negotiator, was greeted by the media as he left the airport terminal, and was driven to the Ciragan Hotel, where the talks will be held.

Jalili said on Monday that "common points" shared by both sides had to be discussed in Istanbul if any progress was expected, not unilateral demands from the US and its allies.

Members of the US delegation arrived earlier on Thursday, followed by Catherine Ashton, the European Union's foreign affairs chief.

SHOTLIST

++PART MUTE++

1. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu walking out on balcony ++MUTE++

2. Wide of Lavrov and Davutoglu walking into news conference, zoom in as they sit down

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Sergey Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister:

"We all need to improve confidence in this six plus one process, and if this deal is implemented, I think we would make an important first step."

4. Cutaway of Lavrov and Davutoglu

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Sergey Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister:

"As for a threat of sanctions, we never supported unilateral sanctions. And we believe that if all countries who are participating in the negotiations with Iran agreed to work in the security council, and to stick together, to develop collective approaches, then any unilateral sanctions would be only serving as spoilers and would be undermining the basis for joint effort. We explained to our partners in the United States and the European Union what we think about unilateral sanctions and I hope they have heard us. It is counterproductive to continuing our common efforts to resolve the Iranian nuclear issue."

6. Cutaway of Lavrov and Davutoglu

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Ahmet Davutoglu, Turkish Foreign Minister:

"It is an honour for us to host these nuclear talks, from the perspective of contributing regional and global peace. Turkey has been always very active to contribute (to) this process in the past, because we are a neighbour of Iran and all the issues regarding energy are also in our interest."

8. Wide pan of news conference

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Ahmet Davutoglu, Turkish Foreign Minister:

"We will provide all the facilities for a successful meeting and negotiations in Istanbul. And we hope that at the end of the meeting there will be good news for everybody, because we believe that through a sophisticated intensified negotiation, a concrete result, positive results could be achieved."

10. Pull out to wide of Lavrov and Davutoglu leaving news conference

11. Wide of US delegation leaving Ataturk airport in Istanbul

12. Various of convoy, sign reading (English) "USA" in window

13. US convoy driving away

14. Saeed Jalili, Iran's chief nuclear negotiator (man wearing black, with glasses), walking through the airport

15. Iranian convoy waiting outside airport

16. Close of sign inside car windscreen reading (English) "Iran"

17. Official tying Iranian flag to car

18. Close of Iranian flag on car

19. Wide of Jalili leaving the airport and getting into car

20. Tracking shot of convoy driving away

STORYLINE

Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov met with the Turkish foreign minister on Thursday, ahead of talks between Iran and world powers in Istanbul over Tehran's uranium enrichment programme.

On Friday nuclear talks begin between Iran and the US, Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China in Istanbul.

In a news conference Lavrov was positive about the potential outcome of the negotiations.

"We all need to improve confidence in this six plus one process," Lavrov said, "and if this deal is implemented, I think we would make an important first step."

The deal to which Lavrov referred concerns an offer that Russia has made to Iran concerning the supply and transportation of fuel in exchange for Iran fully co-operating with the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) recommendations.

Lavrov said that Iran has not yet responded.

Turkish foreign minister Ahmet Davutoglu was also optimistic about the talks.

"We believe that through a sophisticated intensified negotiation, a concrete result, positive results could be achieved," he said on Thursday.

The six powers have been trying to get Iran to address growing international concerns, especially by the US and its Western allies, that it is pursuing nuclear weapons - not nuclear energy as the government insists.

The US is publicly confident that international efforts have slowed Tehran's capacity to make nuclear arms and created more time to press Tehran to accept curbs on its atomic activities.

The United Nations Security Council slapped a fourth round of sanctions on Iran last year over its refusal to stop enriching uranium.

However on Tuesday, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said that Tehran is making steady progress in its "nuclear energy" programme, and warned that no amount of UN Security Council resolutions will derail his country's nuclear ambitions.

The Russian foreign minister said that the sanctions were "counterproductive".

"We explained to our partners in the United States and the European Union what we think about unilateral sanctions and I hope they have heard us," Lavrov said on Thursday.

Lavrov, who arrived on Wednesday, was also expected to discuss new cooperation opportunities with Turkey as well as regional issues, according to the Anatolia news agency.

Meanwhile, key negotiators from the US and Iran arrived at Ataturk airport in Istanbul for the two-day talks.

Saeed Jalili, Iran's chief nuclear negotiator, was greeted by the media as he walked out of the airport terminal.

Jalili said on Monday that "common points" shared by both sides have to be discussed in Istanbul if any progress is expected, not unilateral demands from the US and its allies.

About a thousand pro-government demonstrators gathered for a rally in Istanbul on Tuesday, waving flags and chanting slogans and songs praising Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Meetings and rallies have been held in all major cities in Turkey following last Friday's failed coup that left more than 200 people dead and nearly 1,500 wounded.

The government accuses US-based cleric Fetullah Gulen of plotting the coup and wants him extradited.

Some among the crowd on Tuesday called for the death penalty to be brought back for those responsible for the failed coup attempt.

Erdogan has also raised the spectre of reintroducing the death penalty to punish conspirators.

The chairman of the opposition Nationalist Movement Party has said his party would back legislation to reintroduce it, if it was put forward by the ruling Justice and Development Party, or AKP.

But European Union (EU) Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini said talks on Turkey's bid to join the EU would end if Ankara pressed ahead with such a move - a message echoed by Germany, the EU's biggest state.

About a thousand pro-government demonstrators gathered for a rally in Istanbul on Tuesday, waving flags and chanting slogans and songs praising Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Meetings and rallies have been held in all major cities in Turkey following last Friday's failed coup that left more than 200 people dead and nearly 1,500 wounded.

The government accuses US-based cleric Fetullah Gulen of plotting the coup and wants him extradited.

Some among the crowd on Tuesday called for the death penalty to be brought back for those responsible for the failed coup attempt.

Erdogan has also raised the spectre of reintroducing the death penalty to punish conspirators.

The chairman of the opposition Nationalist Movement Party has said his party would back legislation to reintroduce it, if it was put forward by the ruling Justice and Development Party, or AKP.

But European Union (EU) Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini said talks on Turkey's bid to join the EU would end if Ankara pressed ahead with such a move - a message echoed by Germany, the EU's biggest state.

Istanbul - 19 July 2016

1. Crowd waving Turkish flags at pro-government rally, stage in background

2. Young boy in military clothes waving Turkish flag

3. Rally stage; UPSOUND (Turkish) "Are you ready to chant 'Recep Tayyip Erdogan?'

4. Three women in black headscarves

5. SOUNDBITE (Turkish) Durhan Yilmaz, Istanbul municipality worker:

"We are not leaving these squares so that this kind of coup cannot be repeated again, to show all world that the Turkish flag cannot be lowered, and to show Turkey's unity and solidarity. If it is necessary, it it happens again, we will lay down under the tanks. God willing, this won't be repeated and we are here until this is completely overcome. We won't stop chasing it away. We will never let this flag be lowered. We will never let these prayers be stopped."

6. Various of a woman, holding a young girl, waving flag

7. SOUNDBITE (Turkish) Rabia, no surname given, Turkish housewife:

"We want the death penalty for those who are responsible for this coup. We want the death penalty for Fettullah Gulen, (US-based Muslim cleric). We want the death penalty for all who took part in this coup. This is what we want."

8. Man waving flag on the stage

9. Another man waving flag

10. People addressing crowd from stage

11. People standing on statue near rally

LEAD-IN:

Turkey's Sunday election earthquake that ended more a decade rule of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) will trigger aftershocks affecting the Syrian war, according to analysts.

But members of the Syrian National Coalition hope that the loss of a majority for the AKP doesn't translate into a loss of support for their cause.

STORY-LINE:

Turkey has more than two million Syrian refugees, more than any other country.

They have fled their homeland in what the UN has described as the worst humanitarian crisis of our time.

The Aksaray neighbourhood in Istanbul is known as "Little Syria" for the number of Syrian businesses and refugees living in the area.

Many Syrians here don't want to talk about Sunday's (7th June 2015) election result, when their biggest supporter, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's ruling AKP party, was left without a simple majority in parliament, leaving it in an uncertain situation.

Besides the acceptance of refugees, AKP's policy since the war started in 2011 in the troubled neighbouring country has been to grant areas access to weapons, fighters and humanitarian aid through Turkey's porous 910-kilometre (565 mile) border with Syria.

Syria's Western-backed opposition bloc, the Syrian National Coalition (SNC) has its headquarters in Turkey.

One of the Vice Presidents, Hisham Marwah says he has hopes the unexpected setback for the AKP won't translate into a change of policy towards Syria's opposition and refugee support.

"We believe the difference or the change done will not affect such a deal. Because, and we heard that from the officials, from, I mean, from our friends in the (Turkish) Ministry of Foreign Affairs, they said supporting Syrians, Syrian Coalition, Syrian people, Syrian refugees is like a position of a nation, a state, not just a government or party."

Marwah believes Turkey's policy won't change because the war in Syria is an issue of national security for Ankara.

"What is going on in Syria is very important for Turkish national security, so they have to take care about that. I believe the people in Turkey are very concerned to have Syria stable, the refugees to come back to their homes and to have a strong and stable neighbour," he says.

But according to Fehim Tastekin, a Turkish analyst and commentator specialising in the volatile Middle East region, the Syrian opposition should be worried.

He says none of the opposition parties that are to form a coalition government will support AKP's policy towards Syria.

Besides Ankara's support to the Syrian opposition militarily and politically, in the last two months the AKP Government has taken a more direct approach in an alliance with Saudi Arabia and Qatar to help the Northern Syria front, a move that led to the retaking of Idlib by the rebels.

But this support has been rejected by every opposition party in Turkey from the beginning, so after the elections, either a coalition of parties or an AKP minority Government will oppose this policy, according to Tastekin.

"We expect changes mostly in military areas. We see the (Syria's) Northern front has a lot of support from Turkey's side, like guns, ammunition and so on. This will stop when AKP makes a coalition with any other party. It won't be possible to continue this support," he says.

The Turkish opposition's position regarding the Syrian conflict is in line with the United Nations special envoy for the Syria crisis, Staffan de Mistura's plan.

That consists of local ceasefires and a political solution between rebel factions and the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.

The ceasefires mean that both rebels and the army stay where they are with their weapons - but nobody fights, a possibility that may occur in 28 places inside Syria, explains Tastekin.

"CHP (the centre-left Republican People's Party), (HDP the pro-Kurdish People's Democratic Party), MHP (the right-wing Nationalist Movement Party), they all want ceasefire in the region and want to explore all possibilities in Syria, including dialogue with the (Assad) regime," he says.

The possibility that Turkey would support dialogue with the regime and shut down supplies to rebel areas through its border will not only upset the opposition factions, but also extremist groups like Al Nusra Front and Islamic State (IS), posing a serious threat to the Eurasian country.

"This is a very real threat. If you consider IS and other groups, Turkey is not in a position of just cutting weapons access (through the border). That won't be enough. There will be a much deeper problem waiting for Turkey. Turkey can overcome the threat only by collaborating with all the other actors in the region," warns the analyst.

The actors referred by Tastekin are the Kurdish forces in the region, as well as the Iranian and Syrian governments.

AP TELEVISION

Istanbul, Turkey - 10 June 2015

1. Wide of Syrian restaurant in Istanbul's Aksaray neighbourhood

2. Close up of restaurant sign

3. Mid of customers in restaurant

4. Wide of pedestrians

5. Mid of pedestrians

6. Close up of Syrian flag

7. Wide of Syrian National Coalition (SNC) Vice President Hisham Marwah in his office

8. Close up of Marwah

9. Close up of hands writing

10. SOUNDBITE: (English) Hisham Marwah, Vice President of Syrian National Coalition (SNC):

"We believe the difference or the change done will not affect such a deal. Because, and we heard that from the officials, from, I mean, from our friends in the (Turkish) Ministry of Foreign Affairs, they said supporting Syrians, Syrian Coalition, Syrian people, Syrian refugees is like a position of a nation, a state, not just a government or party."

11. Mid of Syrian children in Aksaray neighbourhood

12. Wide of Syrian children

13. Mid of Syrian men talking in the street

14. Wide of pedestrians passing by

15. SOUNDBITE: (English) Hisham Marwah, Vice President of Syrian National Coalition (SNC):

"What is going on in Syria is very important for Turkish national security, so they have to take care about that. I believe the people in Turkey are very concerned to have Syria stable, the refugees to come back to their homes and to have a strong and stable neighbour."

16. Various of Istanbul skyline

17. Mid of analyst Fehim Tastekin at his desk

18. Close up of tablet showing picture of Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan

19. Close up of Tastekin

20. SOUNDBITE: (Turkish) Fehim Tastekin, Analyst and Commentator:

"We expect changes mostly in military areas. We see the (Syria's) Northern front has a lot of support from Turkey's side, like guns, ammunition and so on. This will stop when AKP (Justice and Development Party) makes a coalition with any other party. It won't be possible to continue this support."

21. Close up of a restaurant sign reading (in Arabic and Turkish) "Mandy Hadramut"

22. Wide of Syrian restaurant

23. Mid of customers in restaurant

24. Close up of "Mandy", a traditional Syrian-Yemeni dish

25. SOUNDBITE: (Turkish) Fehim Tastekin, Analyst and Commentator:

"CHP (The Republican People's Party), HDP (The Peoples' Democratic Party), MHP (Nationalist Movement Party), they all want a ceasefire in the region and want to explore all possibilities in Syria, including dialogue with the (Assad) regime."

26. Wide of tram passing by in Istiklal Avenue

27. Mid of couple smoking water pipe

28. Close up of water pipe

29. SOUNDBITE: (Turkish) Fehim Tastekin, Analyst and Commentator:

"This (Islamic State, IS) is a very real threat. If you consider IS and other groups, Turkey is not in a position of just cutting weapons access (through the border), that won't be enough. There will be a much deeper problem waiting for Turkey. Turkey can overcome the threat only by collaborating with all the other actors in the region."

30. Wide of Syrian restaurant with customers

31. Mid of Syrian restaurant staff placing a Justice and Development Party (AKP) balloon in a corner

32. Close up of AKP balloon

SHOTLIST:

1. Wide of River Bosphorus and Bosphorus Bridge in Istanbul

2. Beylerbeyi Palace on the banks of the Bosphorus

3. Boat motoring across the Bosphorus

4. Wide of Taksim Square in central of Istanbul

5. Analyst Ozcan Tikit walking to his desk and sitting down

6. Various cutaways of Tikit

7. SOUNDBITE: (English) Ozcan Tikit, foreign policy analyst:

"After these statements we will see relations get worse and worse. This is the turning point between Turkey and Israeli relations. Israel has lost one of its unique friends in the region and in the Islamic world."

8. Tilt-down from Ozcan''s face to his hands typing

9. SOUNDBITE: (English) Ozcan Tikit, foreign policy analyst:

"Turkey has a huge population, has a huge affect. And in this area, in this region, is one of the major players. So, whenever the Israelis would like to protect their interests, they will see an aggression and afterwards, they will see a Turkish state who would like to sabotage it."

10. Various of people walking in Taksim Square

11. Taksim Square in istanbul

12. SOUNDBITE: (Turkish) Bahadir Sahin, Istanbul resident:

"I approve of and support the Turkish government and the Turkish foreign ministry. Someone has to put an end to - what shall I call it? Israel''s disgrace against humanity."

13. Tram travelling along Taksim''s Istiklal Avenue

14. Wide of cafe

15. SOUNDBITE: (Turkish) Recep Cavusoglu, cafe owner:

"In my opinion, Israel''s only friend and ally is Turkey. If they lose us as well, they will inch closer to isolation in the region. In the end it''s a mutually beneficial relationship, and most likely they will be the ones to suffer."

16. Wide of people walking in Taksim

STORYLINE:

Turkey expelled Israel''s ambassador and will cut military ties with the country over its refusal to apologise for last year''s deadly raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla, officials said on Friday, further straining a relationship which had been a cornerstone of regional stability.

Turkey''s move came before the anticipated publication on Friday of a United Nations report about the Israeli raid, which killed nine activists.

The breakdown in ties also raised concerns that other countries, including Egypt and Jordan, may follow suit by recalling ambassadors and increase Israel''s alienation in the region.

Relations between Turkey and Israel were once close.

Turkey had mediated several rounds of indirect negotiations between Israel and Syria in 2008, but the talks made no significant headway and were suspended following the Israeli military offensive in Gaza the following year.

Ties have soured further in recent years and deteriorated sharply after the flotilla bloodshed on May 31, 2010.

The Israeli ambassador''s expulsion is the most significant downgrading in ties between the two countries.

Foreign policy analyst Ozcan Tikit predicted that relations between the two countries would only get worse.

"This is the turning point between Turkey and Israeli relations. Israel has lost one of its unique friends in the region and in the Islamic world," said Tikit.

Residents of Istanbul echoed these sentiments, appearing to support their government''s action.

Cafe owner, Recep Cavusoglu, warned that Israel is close to losing its only ally in the region.

"In my opinion, Israel''s only friend and ally is Turkey. If they lose us as well, they will inch closer to isolation in the region," he said.

The Turkish decision increases Israel''s isolation at a sensitive time.

Israel faces turmoil in ties with another established regional ally, Egypt, where long-time leader Hosni Mubarak was deposed earlier this year and where there have been growing calls to revoke the three-decade-old Egypt-Israel peace agreement.

Last month, Egypt briefly threatened to withdraw its ambassador from Israel after a shooting in southern Israel left five Egyptian soldiers dead.

It also comes as Israel seeks to muster international support against an attempt by the Palestinians to have their state recognised at the UN later this month.

The UN report on the flotilla raid, obtained by the New York Times and posted on its website, said Israel''s naval blockade of Gaza was a "legitimate security measure."

But it also said Israel''s use of force against the flotilla was "excessive and unreasonable."

An Israeli official said the report showed Israel''s naval blockade was in keeping with international law.

He spoke on condition of anonymity because the report had yet to be officially released.

He said Israel expected it to be made public by the UN later on Friday.

Turkey has made an Israeli apology a condition of improving diplomatic ties.

Israeli officials say the report does not demand an Israeli apology, recommending instead that Israel should express regret and pay reparations.

In a bid to ease investor concerns about Turkey's economic policy, the country's finance minister said the government would safeguard the independence of the central bank.

Treasury and Finance Minister Berat Albayrak was addressing a conference of  leading private sector representatives at Istanbul's Dolmabahce Palace.

Albayrak outlined his ministry's economic policy as the currency plunged, raising questions about the country's financial stability.

He vowed sustainable and healthy economic growth as well as the struggle against inflation, which currently stands at close to 16 percent.

Investors are worried about the president's unorthodox economic policies, pressure exerted on the central bank, and a dispute with the United States that has led to sanctions.

Istanbul - 10 August 2018

1. Wide of conference at Istanbul's Dolmabahce Palace

2. Mid of audience

3. Cameraman

4. SOUNDBITE (Turkish) Berat Albayrak, Turkish Treasury and Finance Minister:

"Enforcing the independence of monetary policy, this point is very important. If you've noticed since the first day in office, I've made an effort to speak using very sensitive language and as little as possible about monetary policies and the central bank. In fact, I didn't say anything. The absolute independence of this specific monetary policy must in principle continue going forward. It must always be this way. We must continue on this path based on this principle. Because when you look at the whole framework, the central bank's independence is critically fundamental regarding Turkey, our economy."

5. Mid of audience

6. SOUNDBITE (Turkish) Berat Albayrak, Turkish Treasury and Finance Minister:

"Especially our Turkish Lira, increasing confidence. Starting internally (domestically) we will manage the foreign influences much more strongly and we have to manage them, especially in these days while we're going through a global test."

7. Cameramen

8. SOUNDBITE (Turkish) Berat Albayrak, Turkey's Treasury and Finance Minister:

"The new term is a period in which a healthy and sustainable growth is essential. Because I've said that I don't see the struggle against inflation and growth policies as alternatives to each other. Inflation or growth? Inflation or growth? The struggle against inflation as well as healthy growth."

9. Wide of conference

The tumbling Turkish lira has lost more than 20 percent of its value against the dollar since the start of the year, hurting many in Turkey.

The country's economic troubles have emerged as a key issue as Turkey heads into presidential and parliamentary elections next month.

The lira this week slid to a series of record lows amid a global currency sell-off and some concerns over President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's economic policies.

The drop forced the Turkish Central Bank to sharply raise its key lending rate on Wednesday to try and stem an outflow of capital from the country, control inflation and support the beleaguered currency.

At a market in Istanbul's Kasimpasa district, where Erdogan was raised, shoppers and stall owners said on Friday that they felt the pinch from the decline in the currency and double-digit inflation.

The rate increase came despite Erdogan's strong pressure on the Central Bank to keep rates low.

The move helped the currency regain some of its value, but economists fear the country may not be out of the woods just yet.

Erdogan opposes high interest rates which can support a currency and ease inflation but also hinder economic growth.

Analysts say Erdogan, who has been in office since 2003 as prime minister and president and is vying for a new 5-year term, called the elections more than a year earlier than scheduled before a potential economic and financial meltdown could end his rule.

It was not clear how much impact the volatility would have on the elections.

Erdogan has won successive elections on the strength of a vibrant economy in the past 15 years.

More recently though, he has adopted an increasingly authoritarian turn, cracking down on dissent and concentrating more power in his hands.

A state of emergency imposed following a 2016 failed military coup has allowed him to rule by decrees and has resulted in tens of thousands of arrests.

Critics say Erdogan needs to abandon authoritarian policies and carry out liberal reforms in order to bring stability to the economy.

Istanbul, Turkey - 25 May 2018

1. Various of farmer's market in Istanbul's Kasimpasa neighborhood; various of product prices

2. SOUNDBITE (Turkish) Medine Bilgen, Turkish voter:

"Every week the prices are different at the market. Not down, but up. Every week we come here it gets more difficult, more difficult. There's nothing we can do. We have no choice but to buy, and eat, we have to eat. But really, the prices change every week."

3. Various of olives

4. SOUNDBITE (Turkish) Medine Bilgen, Turkish voter:

"I have no hope for how the economy is going. I think it's going to get worse but my wish, during these holy days (referring to Ramadan) is for the economy to improve and for Turkey to be prosperous. But do I have hope? No."

5. Various of Ahmet Acik and vegetable stall

6. SOUNDBITE (Turkish) Ahmet Acik, vegetable seller and Turkish voter:

"For example, instead of spending 200 Turkish lira (23 US dollars) on gas, I spend 300 (lire - 63 US dollars). Of course it makes a difference. Plastic bags. A kilo of plastic bags is now 8,000 (lira - 1694 US dollars) We used to buy it for 4,000 (lira - 847 US dollars). It's now 8,000. Whether you want it to or not, (the lira's devaluation) it does affect us."

7. Wide of rice stand

8. Close of same, prices

9. SOUNDBITE (Turkish) Ahmet Acik, vegetable seller and Turkish voter:

"The elections will be the same as always. Hopelessness. I look at it with hopelessness. I have no expectations."

10. Various of billboard with exchange rates and President Erdogan's AK (Justice and Development) Party banners

11. SOUNDBITE (English) Ozlem Derici Sengul, economist:

"The volatility has not ended. And also the permission from the president (Erdogan; referring to central bank interest rates) still keeps the markets somewhat nervous. So the markets still expect a rate hike."

12. Cutaway hands

13. SOUNDBITE (English) Ozlem Derici Sengul, economist:

"The announcement (of snap elections) created market tension on top of business environment. That's why I think it will hurt some shares - shares of votes for the government. But I'm not sure how it will change the composition of the parliament or also change the president's re-election, under the new constitutional terms. It's a very close call."

14. Various of exchange bureau, foreign currency tickers

SHOTLIST

1. People fishing off Istanbul's Galata bridge

2. Boat on Istanbul's Golden Horn waterway

3. Wide of Golden Horn with boats

4. Participants inside World Economic Forum (WEF) venue reading papers

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Klaus Schwab, WEF Executive Chairman:

"We have had some ideas here that would be wrong to jump to conclusions. I think what we need now is a process, a process which will take a year or so integrating the best minds of politicians, business leaders and also experts to really look at what went wrong, where mistakes were made and so to come up with concrete steps, how we can restore sound sustained economic growth in the world."

6. Participants at breakfast meeting

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Rafael Ramirez, Oxford University Business School:

"Collaborations that were unthinkable in the past is the way out of it."

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Andrei Volkov, Moscow School of Management:

"How we can reach consensus - because different parts of the world have different agendas."

9. WEF meeting in plenary hall and session

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Sinan Ulgen, Centre for Economic and Foreign Policy Studies:

"Solutions were not easy to find and the main problem is whether what we've heard here among the policy elite if you will is going to be reflected in the political domain."

11. WEF meeting in plenary hall and session

12. SOUNDBITE (English) Ali Babacan, Turkish Foreign Minister:

"This economic crisis is very difficult for any individual country to handle by stand alone policies. There has to be a regional and international coordination and cooperation."

13. Wide shot of Istanbul's New Mosque

14. wide of Golden Horn waterway

STORYLINE

Cooperation, coordination and consensus are required to navigate through the global economic crisis - that was the verdict of delegates on Saturday, at the final day of the World Economic Forum (WEF) regional meeting in Turkey.

The organisation's founder Klaus Schwab says a "process" was needed over the next year to look at what went wrong with the world's economies and to come up with "concrete steps" to "restore sound, sustained economic growth".

His views were echoed by participants and Turkey's Foreign Minister Ali Babacan who called for countries to get together to cooperate and find a consensus solution to the crisis.

The WEF summit opened on Thursday with the aim of tackling the global economic downturn.

Organisers of the regional meeting hope it will shape solutions to the global economic crisis by forensically examining its causes.

The three-day meeting has also focused on tackling the global economic downturn and business opportunities that might arise from the crisis, Central Asia's role in the world and Turkey's position as a bridge among Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

An Istanbul-based analyst says Saturday's suspected poison gas attack in Syria presents "another critical threshold" in the country's conflict and warns of "more turbulence".

Sinan Ulgen, chairman of the Center for Economics and Foreign Policy Studies think tank, said the international community wasn't able to prevent the attack in Douma, a rebel-held town near Damascus that killed at least 40 people.

The alleged attack occurred Saturday night amid a resumed offensive by Syrian government forces after the collapse of a truce.

Turkey's foreign ministry has condemned the attack and said there was "strong suspicion" that the Syrian regime used chemical weapons, killing civilians.

The Syrian regime has denied the allegations.

Meanwhile, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Monday that Russia expects Turkey to bring the strategic northern Syrian town of Afrin, previously held by Syrian Kurdish forces, under the control of the Syrian government.

Turkey attacked Afrin in March to drive out the Kurdish militia, known as the YPG, which forms the backbone of the Syrian Democratic Forces, America's main partner in Syria.

Ulgen said it was "unrealistic to expect Turkey to comply with the demands of Russia at this stage".

++AUDIO AS INCOMING++

Istanbul - 9 April 2018

1. Various of Ortakoy mosque and July 15 Martyrs' Bridge

2. Various of Sinan Ulgen writing at this desk

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Sinan Ulgen, chairman of Centre for Economics and Foreign Policy Studies:

"The gas attack in Douma is certainly yet another critical threshold in the Syria conflict. We have seen gas attacks being used also in the past in Syria. And the reaction of the international community was obviously not sufficient to be able to prevent yet another such tragic attack. So I think both the UN Security Council and the other actors will have to take into consideration this fact, that their past behaviour was not sufficient to deter yet another attack and therefore formulate their response accordingly, this time around."

4. Close of Ulgen's eyes

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Sinan Ulgen, chairman of the Center for Economics and Foreign Policy Studies:

"We are indeed certainly entering a period where in the short run there will have to be some consequences, in terms of the attack that we've witnessed, the nerve gas attack that we've witnessed. And therefore in the short run this is likely to create even more turbulence. The UN Security Council will be deliberating on it but as important as that will be the stance of the western powers, the US, France and the UK, in order to determine what sort of response the international community will have to orchestrate against such an attack."

6. Books on shelf

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Sinan Ulgen, chairman of the Center for Economics and Foreign Policy Studies:

"It is clear that the international system, the norms-based, the value-based system that we think the international system has espoused has failed in Syria. And that will certainly have repercussions for other future crises, be it in the region, in the Middle East, or in other parts of the world. It shows that the main global players are unable to reach a degree of convergence that would be necessary for the international system, for the international political and security governance, to address these shortcomings. And in that sense, yes we should be worried when we look at what has happened in Syria."

8. Ulgen's hands

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Sinan Ulgen, chairman of the Center for Economics and Foreign Policy Studies:

"Given that Moscow has since, from the beginning, backed the Assad regime the solution would be for the Assad regime to take over the control of much of the Syrian territory including in Afrin. Having said that, the Turkish side is in no way ready to cede control to Afrin under these circumstances. Turkey will want a firm guarantee that the Syrian YPG (Kurdish forces) will not then come back to this region and present a danger to Turkey's national security. So I think it would be unrealistic to expect Turkey to comply with the demands of Russia at this stage. Instead, Turkey will want to retain this control which also allows Ankara to be a stronger player in the diplomatic negotiations ahead on the future of a political settlement in Syria."

10. Various of Ortakoy mosque and July 15 Martyrs' Bridge

Turkey is one of a number of countries singled out by Amnesty International in its annual report on human rights abuses around the world.

The watchdog said "toxic" fear-mongering by anti-establishment politicians, among them US President Donald Trump and the leaders of Turkey, Hungary and the Philippines, was contributing to a global pushback against human rights.

The 408-page report, released on Wednesday, named Trump, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte among leaders who are "wielding a toxic agenda that hounds, scapegoats and dehumanises entire groups of people."

At a news conference in Istanbul, representatives from the watchdog's Turkey division commented on the report, saying the country had exhibited "some of the worst practices for human rights in 2016."

Andrew Gardner, an Amnesty International Turkey researcher also expressed concern over the recent media crackdown and arrest of opposition journalists.

Turkey declared a state of emergency to deal with the perpetrators of a failed coup last year as well as a spate of deadly attacks carried out by the Islamic State group or Kurdish militants.

Critics say the government has used the emergency powers to go after all opponents.

Around 41,000 people have been arrested since then, while more than 100,000 people have been dismissed from government jobs.

In addition, hundreds of media companies and civil society groups have been closed down while around 150 journalists and a dozen pro-Kurdish legislators have been jailed.

Istanbul - 22 February 2017

1. Wide of Amnesty International Turkey news conference

2. Close of banner reading (Turkish) "Amnesty International amnesty.org.tr"

3. Cutaway of cameraman

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Andrew Gardner Amnesty International Turkey researcher:

"Unfortunately, you'll see Turkey among the examples of some of the worst practices for human rights in 2016. And especially this 'us and them' politics, the demonisation of opponents, you know we looked, picked out, particular examples in the United States under (US President Donald) Trump, in Hungary under (Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor) Orban, in the Philippines, and also in Turkey as well. So, I mean we don't make a scale, I think it is wrong to do so, but unfortunately, in terms of the trends, of worsening human rights across the world and Turkey, again and again we looked to Turkey unfortunately to see the most shocking examples among other countries as well."

5. Mid of news conference

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Andrew Gardner Amnesty International Turkey researcher:

"If you look at the current conditions in Turkey, where the independent press has been either closed down or very strongly curtailed, where people in civil society bringing up views which is critical of the government, or against government policies, have been subject to detention, imprisonment themselves, where civil society organisations you know have been shut down, this is a situation which raises lots of concerns. And it is clear that people, you know, taking views or expressing their views, which go contrary to the government policies, have been subject to threats and in the context of the referendum campaign unfortunately this doesn't look any different."

7. Cutaway of journalist

8. Wide of news conference

The Turkish stock market reacted positively on Monday to preliminary results of Sunday's election that saw a clear victory for the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).

The Turkish lira was up about 4 percent against the dollar on Monday morning, while the main stock index rallied 5.5 percent as investors cheered the elections results which put an end to a period of political uncertainty.

Turkish economics professor Selva Demiralp believes the rise is only temporary.

Demiralp also called for a truly independent central bank, in order for the nation's economy to avoid being strongly impacted by measures taken by the US Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank.

The AKP secured a stunning victory in the snap parliamentary election, sweeping back into single-party rule only five months after losing it.

Sunday's election was held amid renewed violence and Turkey's president and prime minister argued that only a single-party majority could restore stability.

The Turkish stock market reacted positively on Monday to preliminary results of Sunday's election that saw a clear victory for the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).

The Turkish lira was up about 4 percent against the dollar on Monday morning, while the main stock index rallied 5.5 percent as investors cheered the elections results which put an end to a period of political uncertainty.

Turkish economics professor Selva Demiralp believes the rise is only temporary.

Demiralp also called for a truly independent central bank, in order for the nation's economy to avoid being strongly impacted by measures taken by the US Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank.

The AKP secured a stunning victory in the snap parliamentary election, sweeping back into single-party rule only five months after losing it.

Sunday's election was held amid renewed violence and Turkey's president and prime minister argued that only a single-party majority could restore stability.

AP TELEVISION

Istanbul, Turkey – 2 November 2015

1. Various of street with Turkish flags

2. Various of people in the street, at cash machine

3. Various of kebab shop

4. Various of women setting up clothes store displays

5. Various of vegetables on display at market

6. Turkish and Ataturk flags waving

7. Various of economics professor Selva Demiralp

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Selva Demiralp, Associated Professor of Economics, Koc University:

"There's a temporary optimism, like today we see the stock market and the lira (Turkish currency) strengthening quite a bit. But I think this is temporary. It is important to know that this is temporary because if we think about it, we had a single party government up until June (2015) anyway. So things that changed after June, the uncertainty, yes, now it is going to be back to single party government. But I think in the long run what is really important is the immediate risks that the Turkish economy will face and how the new government will design policies to face these risks."

9. Economy books on shelf

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Selva Demiralp, Associated Professor of Economics, Koc University:

"Whenever there's a slowdown in growth, there's increased pressure on the central bank about independent monetary policy. So the Fed (US Federal Reserve) and euro area from the other hand, ECB (European Central Bank) they will both implement policies that will lead to a slowdown in the Turkish economy in an indirect way. So, it is very essential for us to face this era with an independent central bank. Otherwise I think Turkish economy may face a very significant challenge."

11. Various of Istanbul skyline and Bosporus River

12. Turkish flag waving

SHOTLIST

1. Wide of British Foreign Secretary William Hague walking into room

2. Mid cameraman

3. SOUNDBITE: (English) William Hague, British Foreign Secretary:

"What we have arrived at as, as my Turkish colleague, and Secretary Kerry (US Secretary of State John Kerry) will explain at the press conference, is an agreement, a declaration, by the National Coalition of the Syrian opposition that is, in effect, their compact with the international community. It is in the clearest language they've ever used - a commitment to a free and democratic Syria -to condemn extremism themselves, to be clear about their responsibilities on chemical weapons."

4. Mid of Hague

5. SOUNDBITE: (English) William Hague, British Foreign Secretary:

"All the 11 countries involved will intensify our coordination with each other in the way that we deliver assistance to them. And all the countries involved have pledged to ensure that the assistance that they deliver, as the United Kingdom does already, will all go through the Syrian National Coalition or, where appropriate, their military council."

6. Cameraman

7. SOUNDBITE: (English) William Hague, British Foreign Secretary:

"Well, we're all discussing in the European Union how we need to move forward on that, on the whole sanctions issue, of which the arms embargo is a part. So I don't think I can add much to what I said to your colleague. There will be discussions over the next few weeks. I've certainly been discussing it with my German colleague Guido Westerwelle tonight. There will be discussions over the next few weeks. I don't want to pre-judge that. But of course in the UK we are in favour of giving more assistance to the (Syrian) National Coalition."

8. SOUNDBITE: (English) William Hague, British Foreign Secretary:

"The world hasn't been decisive. The United Nations Security Council has failed in its responsibilities. Of course, many countries on the Security Council like the UK have tried to exercise those responsibilities. We've tried for a long time to pass resolutions that would require the implementation of the Geneva communiqu�, of a transitional government made up of regime and opposition."

9. Wide Hague leaving

STORYLINE:

British Foreign Secretary William Hague on Saturday said no decisions had been made on amending or lifting a European Union embargo on providing weapons to Syria's rebels, which expires at the end of May.

"There will be discussions over the next few weeks. I don't want to pre-judge that. But of course in the UK we are in favour of giving more assistance to the (Syrian) National Coalition," Hague told reporters on the sidelines of the so called Friends of Syria conference in Istanbul.

Foreign ministers from the main supporters of the rebels trying to topple the Syrian government were meeting in Istanbul over the weekend to increase pressure on Syrian President Bashar Assad to step down.

Turkey was hosting the gathering, which was also attended by US Secretary of State John Kerry, Germany's Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle and France's Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius.

Hague also said that the Syrian National Coalition pledged their commitment to a "free and democratic Syria".

In a joint statement, the foreign ministers said they welcomed the Syrian National Coalition's "firm rejection of extremism and its commitment not to use chemical weapons" and cited those commitments in agreeing to enhance and expand support for all coalition institutions.

At the conclusion of the conference that began Saturday afternoon and stretched into early Sunday, Kerry announced a new package of assistance worth 123 (m) million US dollars in non-lethal aid for the rebels.

US sources suggested the supplies could include body armour, armoured vehicles, night vision goggles and advanced communications equipment, with other items not included in the assistance package in the past.

The additional money will double the non-lethal assistance to the Syrian opposition as well as increasing humanitarian aid.

But the fresh US help fell short of the strongest demands from the National Coalition: drone strikes to disable Assad's chemical weapon and missile capability and a no-fly zone requiring significant military operations.

The additional aid, which brings total non-lethal US assistance to the opposition to 250 (m) million US dollars since the fighting began, "underscores the United States' firm support for a political solution to the crisis in Syria and for the opposition's advancement of an inclusive, tolerant vision for a post-Assad Syria," Kerry said.

The United Nations estimates that the fighting in Syria has killed more than 70-thousand people.

SHOTLIST

AP TELEVISION

1. People fishing off Istanbul's Galata bridge

2. Boat on Istanbul's Golden Horn waterway

3. Wide of Golden Horn with boats

4. Participants inside World Economic Forum (WEF) venue reading papers

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Klaus Schwab, WEF Executive Chairman:

"We have had some ideas here that would be wrong to jump to conclusions. I think what we need now is a process, a process which will take a year or so integrating the best minds of politicians, business leaders and also experts to really look at what went wrong, where mistakes were made and so to come up with concrete steps, how we can restore sound sustained economic growth in the world."

6. Participants at breakfast meeting

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Rafael Ramirez, Oxford University Business School:

"Collaborations that were unthinkable in the past is the way out of it."

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Andrei Volkov, Moscow School of Management:

"How we can reach consensus - because different parts of the world have different agendas."

9. WEF participants

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Sinan Ulgen, Centre for Economic and Foreign Policy Studies:

"Solutions were not easy to find and the main problem is whether what we've heard here among the policy elite if you will, is going to be reflected in the political domain."

11. WEF meeting in plenary hall and session

12. SOUNDBITE (English) Ali Babacan, Turkish Foreign Minister:

"This economic crisis is very difficult for any individual country to handle by stand alone policies. There has to be a regional and international coordination and cooperation."

POOL

13. Wide of closing session of the World Economic Forum

14. SOUNDBITE (English) Borge Brende, WEF Managing Director:

"A new world order is likely to emerge from the current economic crisis and that it is important that it is inclusive rather than exclusive and that it favours dialogue between nations in the region."

15. Wide of Brende at podium during closing session

16. SOUNDBITE (English) Borge Brende, WEF Managing Director:

"The two days were marked in my opinion by optimism and fighting spirit and confidence in the resilience and strong potential of a speedy recovery of emerging economies especially in this region."

17. Wide of audience applauding as Brende leaves podium

STORYLINE

Cooperation, coordination and consensus are required to navigate through the global economic crisis - that was the verdict of delegates on Saturday, at the final day of the World Economic Forum (WEF) regional meeting in Turkey.

The meeting ended with a call for Western nations and emerging markets to collaborate in an "inclusive" new world order to tackle the financial crisis.

In his closing address to business and political leaders, WEF managing director Borge Brende said he felt the meeting was marked by a fighting spirit which could lead a speedy economic recovery.

Earlier, the organisation's founder Klaus Schwab said a "process" was needed over the next year to look at what went wrong with the world's economies and to come up with "concrete steps" to "restore sound, sustained economic growth".

His views were echoed by other participants and Turkey's Foreign Minister Ali Babacan who called for countries to get together to cooperate and find a consensus solution to the crisis.

The WEF summit opened on Thursday with the aim of tackling the global economic downturn.

Organisers of the regional meeting hope it will shape solutions to the global economic crisis by forensically examining its causes.

The three-day meeting has also focused on business opportunities that might arise from the crisis, Central Asia's role in the world and Turkey's position as a bridge across Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

A Turkey-based energy researcher on Tuesday said Turkey and the US "will find common points" that will allow Ankara to continue importing oil from neighbouring Iran past the waiver period granted to a few countries following the resumption of US sanctions against Iran.

According to Emin Danis, research and strategy Director at the Turkey-based Global Energy Research Partners, Iranian imports cover 45 percent of Turkey's crude oil needs, and that Iranian oil plays an "important role" in Turkey's energy supply.

Danis said Ankara did not want to be part of "this crisis" and said Turkey and the US had many common interests in the region.

"That's why Turkey expects peaceful solutions for this problem," he said.

The Trump administration's tough new sanctions on Iran took effect on Monday but eight major importers of Iranian oil were spared from immediate penalties.

The US is allowing Greece, India, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Turkey to continue purchasing Iranian oil as long as they work to reduce imports to zero.

The sanctions target Iran's energy, financial and shipping sectors and are aimed at crippling the country's economy following President Donald Trump's withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal.

The measures restore all the US sanctions that had been lifted under the accord that gave Iran billions of dollars in sanctions relief in exchange for curbs on its nuclear programme.

Despite being granted a waiver, Turkey's president earlier on Tuesday criticised the resumption of sanctions, calling it a destabilising step.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan also said the sanctions contravene international law and diplomacy.

Istanbul - 6 November 2018

1. Wide of Emin Danis, Research and Strategy Director at Global Energy Research Partners, walking

2. Sea of Marmara

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Emin Danis, Research and Strategy Director at Global Energy Research Partners:

"(The) Turkey and the United States are very old allies. And US and Turkey relations are not directly affects (affected) from Iran and other issues. There are so many topics to discuss between the two countries. That's why I believe that Turkey and the United States will find common points and Turkey will sustain its oil imports from Iran (past the duration of the waiver.)"

4. Cutaway of hands

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Emin Danis, Research and Strategy Director at Global Energy Research Partners:

"At the end of the day these decisions are political and economic decisions. But six months later Turkey and the other seven nations will discuss this issue with United States again. Why? Because the price and energy supply security is a priority of Turkey. Because the Iranian oil plays a very important role for Turkey in terms of energy supply security and in terms of the price of oil. "

6. Cutaway of eyes

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Emin Danis, Research and Strategy Director at Global Energy Research Partners:

"In 2017, Turkey imported around 45 percent of its crude oil from Iran and also other oil products. Iran plays a very important role for Turkey's oil and oil products imports."

8. Cutaway of hands

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Emin Danis, Research and Strategy Director at Global Energy Research Partners:

"Turkey and Iran is one of the biggest and important countries in the region, and we have historical and cultural ties with Iran. But as I mentioned, Turkey and the United States are very old allies and we have so many common interests in the region, and in economy and energy politics. Turkey doesn't want to be a part of this crisis and sanctions. And Turkey wants to bring sustainability and peace, welfare in the region. And Turkey wants to see cooperation between all these countries - Europe, United States, Russia and regional countries. That's why Turkey expects peaceful solutions for this problem."

10. Sea of Marmara

11. Danis walking away from camera

Turkey's central bank raised all of its main interest rates on Wednesday, following an emergency policy meeting to defend a crumbling lira.

The bank raised its overnight lending rate to 12 percent from 7.75 percent, its one-week repo rate to 10 percent from 4.5, and its overnight borrowing rate to 8 percent from 3.5.

These were much sharper moves than economists had forecast.

In a statement, the bank said it would maintain tight monetary policy until the inflation outlook showed a clear improvement.

The bold action gave the national currency only a brief lift however on Wednesday with investors worried the aggressive interest rate increases may not work in bringing an end to the market volatility.

Analysts said the future remains murky for Turky and the lira with concerns over domestic growth in light of the big interest rate hike, the country's political outlook and anticipated further stimulus reductions by the US Federal Reserve.

"We will see some negative impact of this rate hike decision over growth, especially GDP growth, because the credit rates will probably increase, borrowing costs will increase," said economist, Ozlem Demirci.

In early afternoon trading, the Turkish lira was down 2.3 percent against the dollar at 2.2296 Turkish lira.

That means it is more or less back where it was late on Tuesday before the rate hikes.

Business owners in Istanbul's iconic Covered Bazaar noticed the effect of the Central Bank's move, which brought down the US dollar from a record high of 2.30 to the Turkish lira.

"Because the US dollar has dropped, there are more people buying it today," said Burak Aynici who works at a currency exchange bureau.

"Yesterday and the day before people were selling their dollars but today, we've seen an increase in the purchase of foreign currency" he told AP Television.

The Turkish lira has hit record lows in recent weeks on concerns over global growth, the prospect that a police bribery scandal might destabilise the government, and the change in the monetary policy stance of the US Federal Reserve.

Turkey, like other emerging economies, has seen an influx of foreign investment over the past few years as the Fed and other central banks have pumped the prime to shore up their economies.

Now that the Fed has begun the process of reducing its stimulus, much of that money is expected to be withdrawn.

A big worry is that higher borrowing rates will make a big dent in Turkey's economic activity.

Many economists think growth will more or less halve this year to 2 percent.

That helps explain why the Turkish stock market reversed earlier gains to trade 1.2 percent lower.

The action by the central bank came in the face of pressure by the Turkish government, which wanted rates to remain low in order to shore up growth.

Ahead of the decision, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan reiterated his view that he was opposed to any interest rate hike while insisting that he respected the central bank's independence.

AP TELEVISION

1. Wide of the grand bazaar

2. Mid of tourists outside shop

3. Mid of tourists looking at shop window

4. Mid French-speaking tourists looking at fabric

5. Mid trader showing tourists fabric

6. Close of fabric

7. Wide exterior of jewellery shop

8. Mid of jewellery shop window

9. Close of jewellery in shop window

10. SOUNDBITE: (Turkish) Aret Kapu, Gold seller:

"We think the hike in interest rates was meant to decrease the demand on the US dollar. I believe the effect will be huge. I've been working at the (covered) bazaar for 25 years and this is what I predict."

11. Wide of currency exchange office

12. Close of exchange rates on display outside currency exchange office

13. Mid of Burak Aynaci, trading in currency exchange office

14. SOUNDBITE: (Turkish) Burak Aynaci, Currency Exchange office worker:

"Because the US dollar has dropped, there are more people buying it today. Yesterday and the day before people were selling their dollars but today, we've seen an increase in the purchase of foreign currency."

15. Close of Aynaci holding wads of US dollars

16. Mid of US dollars going through counting machine

17. Close of US dollars

18. Mid of economist Ozlem Demirci

19. SOUNDBITE: (English) Ozlem Demirci, Economist:

"Of course, we will see some negative impact of this rate hike decision over growth, especially GDP growth, because the credit rates will probably increase, borrowing costs will increase. We didn't see so aggressive movement in bond market today but gradually we will see some increase because on top of (Turkey's) Central Bank's tighter monetary policy, Fed's tapering moves also contributes negatively to the borrowing costs."

20. Close of Demirci'shands

21. SOUNDBITE: (English) Ozlem Demirci, Economist:

"If it's impact turns to positive in terms of currency permanently, currency depreciation � true exchange rates, on the positive side, exchange rate pass through, we may see inflation starts to decline by the second half of the year. We will see it due to base effect but maybe it will work for breaking the increasing inflation expectations. That will be the positive side, of course."

22. Wide of currency exchange bureau

23. Mid of currency exchange rates on display

24. Mid of sign reading (English) "Change Office. No Commission"

British Foreign Secretary William Hague said on Wednesday differences between Iran and western powers over the country's nuclear programme were narrow.

Hague, who is on an official visit to Istanbul, was speaking at a joint news conference with his Turkish counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu.

He said nuclear talks which resumed in Geneva on Wednesday presented "an historic opportunity, to build agreement on how to curb nuclear proliferation in the Middle East and potentially to set relations with Iran on a different path."

"A deal is on the table that would be in the interest of all nations, including countries across the Middle East," Hague said.

The differences that remained between the parties were, he said, narrow.

"I believe they can be bridged with political will and commitment, so this is an historic opportunity, to build agreement on how to curb nuclear proliferation in the Middle East."

On Wednesday, delegations arrived in Geneva for consultations ahead of a full round of talks between Iran and six nations: the US, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany.

Western diplomats reported progress during a previous round of talks in Geneva.

Earlier, Hague and Davutoglu held talks which centred on bilateral cooperation, the Syrian conflict and Turkey's relations with the EU, Iran and Cyprus.

Hague will meet members of the Syrian National Coalition, the largest Syrian opposition group in exile, during his visit.

Turkey's Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu called for the proposed peace conference on Syria to be held without any delay.

"Geneva 2 should happen as soon as possible, the solution should be found, if it can be found, as soon as possible and (the) Syrian regime should be prevented from using the Geneva 2 process to gain time for crimes against humanity" Davutoglu said.

AP TELEVISION

1. UK Foreign Secretary William Hague and Turkey's Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu arriving for a news conference

2. Wide of Hague and Davutoglu at podium

3. SOUNDBITE: (Turkish) Ahmet Davutoglu, Turkey's Foreign Minister:

"We don't want nuclear weapons in the region, but we also don't want peace-oriented nuclear technology to be limited. In the context of these two principles, Turkey has always contributed and hosted the negotiations between Iran and P5+1 (referring to permanent five members of UN Security Council and Germany), and is still ready to do whatever is necessary."

4. Mid of news conference

5. SOUNDBITE: (English) William Hague, UK Foreign Secretary:

"A deal is on the table that would be in the interest of all nations, including countries across the Middle East, and the differences that remain between the parties are narrow, and I believe they can be bridged with political will and commitment, so this is an historic opportunity, to build agreement on how to curb nuclear proliferation in the Middle East and potentially to set our relations with Iran on a different path. It is the best chance for a long time to make progress on one of the gravest problems in foreign policy."

6. Mid of a cameraman

7. SOUNDBITE: (Turkish) Ahmet Davutoglu, Turkey's Foreign Minister:

"As Geneva 2 (referring to proposed Syria peace conference) gives hope (for a solution), this is regarded as a base for its pressure policy and humanitarian crimes by the Syrian regime. This should be prevented. Therefore, Geneva 2 should happen as soon as possible, the solution should be found, if it can be found, as soon as possible and (the) Syrian regime should be prevented from using the Geneva 2 process to gain time for crimes against humanity."

8. Mid of Hague and Davutoglu shaking hands

SHOTLIST

++NOTE: FARSI SOUNDBITES INCLUDE CORRESPONDING TURKISH TRANSLATION++

1. Wide of Iranian nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili at news conference

2. Cutaway of journalists

3. SOUNDBITE (Farsi) Saeed Jalili, Iranian nuclear negotiator:

"Yes, they (the talks) were fruitful but they need to continue. This can take place either before or after the elections in Iran. Because these talks are happening at a national level and involve everyone in Iran. We support the Iranian public. So a decision has been made to continue negotiations and hold talks again in the near future."

4. Cutaway of journalists

5. SOUNDBITE (Farsi) Saeed Jalili, Iranian nuclear negotiator:

"They rejected the Tehran declaration, they didn't accept it. And we hope that when the opportunity arises, they (P5+1) will take the Tehran declaration into consideration. At the first (P5+1) meeting in Almaty, they told us to think about the preparations for enriching uranium to 20 percent for Iran. I hope they think about that."

6. Cutaway of journalists

7. SOUNDBITE (Farsi) Saeed Jalili, Iranian nuclear negotiator:

"The Republic of Iran since the very beginning has always opposed violence, has always opposed the use of arms. There's only one solution to the conflict in Syria and that's democracy and negotiation."

8. Cutaway of journalists

9. Mid of Jalili

STORYLINE:

Iranian nuclear negotiator, Saeed Jalili, on Thursday described his talks with European Union foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton, in Istanbul the previous day, as "fruitful".

At a news conference in the Turkish city, he said there was an opportunity for the talks to continue either before or after the upcoming Iranian elections.

"We support the Iranian public. So a decision has been made to continue negotiations and hold talks again in the near future," Jalili said.

His comments came a day after Iranian negotiators and United Nations nuclear agency officials in Vienna failed to reach a deal that would allow the agency to relaunch its probe of Tehran's nuclear programme.

The Vienna meeting was the 10th inconclusive meeting between the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and Iran on the issue over the past year and a half.

The last round of talks between Tehran and six world powers in Almaty, in Kazakhstan, last month ended in a stalemate.

The six nations (The US, UK, Germany, China, France and Russia) want Iran to stop enriching uranium to a level just a technical step short of the grade used to arm nuclear warheads.

The IAEA's investigation has stalled for more than five years, with Tehran saying it has answered all questions it is obliged to.

Commenting on the ongoing situation in Syria, Jalili said that his government "has always opposed violence, has always opposed the use of arms".

"There's only one solution to the conflict in Syria and that's democracy and negotiation," he said.

SHOTLIST

1. Mid of US Secretary of State John Kerry

2. SOUNDBITE (English) John Kerry, US Secretary of State

"First of all we talked about the importance of completing the task with respect to the renewal of relationships between Turkey and Israel. That was an important and courageous choice and decision made by the prime minister of Israel to move forward in that relationship, and I believe both Prime Minister (Recep Tayyip) Erdogan and Foreign Minister (Ahmet) Davutoglu are deeply committed to fulfilling all of the obligations of that understanding."

3. Wide of Kerry

4. SOUNDBITE (English) John Kerry, US Secretary of State

"As a NATO country, Turkey is an important contributor to peace in the region. And one of the reasons that we have a Patriot battery on the border here in Turkey is because of that relationship. So clearly if allies who have differences have suddenly put those differences aside, you have a much stronger alliance. You have a much stronger ability to be able to address other concerns you may have, and ultimately to stand up to the threats that are mutual. And one of those mutual threats is Iran. So without any question this rapprochement (between Turkey and Israel) puts us in a position to be able to not allow us to be divided on something of as enormous consequences as the potential of a nuclear programme in Iran, which still has not been adequately answered."

5. Audience

6. SOUNDBITE (English) John Kerry, US Secretary of State

"We have expressed to the prime minister that we really think that it (Erdogan's planned trip to Gaza) would be better delayed and it shouldn't take place at this point in time."

7. Cameras

8. SOUNDBITE (English) John Kerry, US Secretary of State

(referring to Syria)

"The United States - in fulfilment of our obligations with respect to supporting the opposition - has committed to doubling our non-lethal aid and to giving much of that to local leaders, who are trying to lay the groundwork for a stable and a democratic future. And each of the countries represented that were here yesterday all made a commitment to direct their military aid and assistance, directly and uniquely, solely through the Supreme Military Command, General (Salim) Idriss."

9. Mid of Kerry entering St. George Church

10. Wide of Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople and Kerry entering and sitting down

11. Close up of Kerry lighting a candle

12. Mid pan of Kerry walking with monks

13. Wide of Kerry exiting inner cloister of the church

STORYLINE

US Secretary of State John Kerry on Sunday urged Turkey to speed up and cement an American-brokered rapprochement with Israel, and he explored with Palestinian officials new ways to relaunch Middle East peace efforts.

Those are second-term foreign policy priorities for President Barack Obama, and Kerry tried to advance them in meetings with Turkey's foreign minister, Ahmet Davutoglu, and the Palestinian Authority president, Mahmoud Abbas.

On a trip to Israel last month, Obama secured a pledge from Turkish and Israeli leaders to normalize ties that broke down after a 2010 Israeli raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla that killed eight Turks and a Turkish-American.

But the rapprochement has been slow, fuelling concerns that Turkey may be backsliding on its commitment.

Israeli and Turkish negotiators plan to meet this coming week to discuss Turkey's demand for compensation for victims of the flotilla.

US officials hope the discussions will jumpstart the process of restoring full diplomatic relations and exchanging ambassadors between two countries that Washington sees as vital strategic partners in the volatile Middle East.

The raid sparked throughout outrage in Muslim-majority Turkey, making it politically difficult for the prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, to bend to persistent US appeals to improve relations with Israel.

In March, Obama extracted an apology for the raid from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that broke the stalemate.

Kerry said he understood the anger and frustration of those Turks who lost friends and family in the raid.

Kerry said he had a prolonged and constructive discussion with Davutoglu, about the importance of completing the task with respect to the renewal of relations between Turkey and Israel.

Kerry added that he believed Erdogan, whom he did not meet on this trip, and Davutoglu "are deeply committed to fulfilling all of the obligations of that understanding."

Erdogan plans to visit Obama at the White House on May 16, and US officials are keen to see substantive process by then.

However, Erdogan's plans to visit the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip sometime in May after his trip to Washington have raised concerns. Both Israel and Abbas, whose Palestinian Authority is based in the West Bank, are opposed.

Kerry said he had made it clear to the Turks that such a trip "shouldn't take place at this point in time."

With Abbas, Kerry was talking about ways to improve the Palestinians' living conditions as a confidence-building measure to improve the atmosphere for a resumption in stalled peace talks with Israel.

Later in the day, Kerry then visited St. George Greek Orthodox Church and met with Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinopole.

Kerry has said he fears there is only a two- or three-year window of opportunity to reach a deal on a two-state solution that would end the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict and wants to move as quickly as possible.

He has met with Abbas and Netanyahu several times already to that end since becoming secretary of state.

Kerry was in Istanbul primarily to attend an international conference on Syria that began on Saturday and stretched into early Sunday as participants debated how best to boost aid to rebels trying to topple Syrian President Bashar Assad's government.

At the conference, he announced that the Obama administration would double its nonlethal assistance to the Syrian opposition with an additional 123 (m) million US dollars in supplies that could include for the first time armoured vehicles, body armour, night vision goggles and other defensive military supplies.

The additional aid brings total non-lethal US assistance to the opposition to $250 million since the fighting began more than two years ago.

"Each of the countries represented that were here yesterday all made a commitment to direct their military aid and assistance directly and uniquely, solely through the Supreme Military Command, General (Salim) Idriss," said Kerry.

The US pledge was the only tangible, public offer of new international support at the meeting of the foreign ministers of the 11 main countries supporting the opposition and fell well short of what the opposition has been appealing for: weapons and direct military intervention to stop the violence that has killed more than 70,000 people.

The Syrian National Coalition is seeking drone strikes on sites from which the regime has fired missiles, the imposition of no-fly zones and protected humanitarian corridors to ensure the safety of civilians.

While pleased with the US moves, the opposition appeared deeply disappointed, especially as it lost some ground in the latest clashes with Syrian troops backed by pro-government gunmen capturing at least one village in a strategic area near the Lebanese border.

With the exception of the United States, none of the participants offered new assistance, although European nations are considering changes to an arms embargo that would allow weapons transfers to the Syrian opposition.

SHOTLIST:

1. Mid of Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu walking into presidential palace

2. Tracking shot of EU Chief of Foreign Affairs Catherine Ashton walking to greet Davutoglu, then walking on

3. Tracking shot of Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili walking to greet Davutoglu, then walking on

4. Tracking shot of head of the German delegation Emily Haber walking to greet Davutoglu, then walking on

5. Tracking shot of head of the British delegation Sir Geoffrey Adams shaking hands with Davutoglu then walking on; Davutoglu is greeted by various officials, then walks off.

STORYLINE:

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu hosted a dinner for delegates in Istanbul on Thursday night before talks between Iran and world powers about Tehran's uranium enrichment programme.

Guests included Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili, the EU Chief of Foreign Affairs Catherine Ashton, head of the German delegation Emily Haber and head of the British delegation Sir Geoffrey Adams.

On Friday, nuclear negotiations begin between Iran and the US, Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China.

The six powers have been trying to get Iran to address growing international concerns, especially in the US and its Western allies, that it is pursuing nuclear weapons - not nuclear energy as Tehran insists.

Turkey on Thursday urged Iran to offer assurances that it won't seek nuclear weapons and said all countries should have the right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy.

The US is publicly confident that international efforts have slowed Tehran's capacity to make nuclear arms and created more time to press Iran to accept curbs on its atomic activities.

The United Nations Security Council slapped a fourth round of sanctions on Iran last year over its refusal to stop enriching uranium.

However on Tuesday, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Tehran was making steady progress in its "nuclear energy" programme and warned that no amount of UN Security Council resolutions would derail his country's nuclear ambitions.

The Russian foreign minister said that the sanctions were "counterproductive".

Jalili said on Monday that "common points" shared by both sides had to be discussed in Istanbul if any progress was expected, not unilateral demands from the US and its allies.