Turkey Live Coverage (12 July): Tension with Moscow around the Corner?

1800 GMT: The US ambassador to Turkey, Francis Ricciardone, spoke about the Turkish downed jet last month:

Our ally lost its two pilots. It seems that they were in an unarmed plane. As the US government, we conveyed all information we had in hand to the Turkish government. We took side with the Turkish government, conveyed our condolences. American technical rescue opportunities cooperated with the Turkish side. We were glad that the pilots were found.

1545 GMT: Turkey's EU Minister & Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis has spoken to Turkish daily Star regarding 'terrorism' and Kurdish language:

Turkey has a bleeding wound: Terror! After we get rid of this terror problem, there could be many meaningful regaulations to be made in Turkey. However, the priority of Turkey is to stop the bloodshed. Only aftet his, just as English, French and German; why shouldn't my children learn Kurdish, Persian and Arabic, all of which are effective languages providing opportunities in trade? 

1340 GMT: AKP's deputy of the southeastern province of Diyarbakir, Galip Ensarioglu, said that the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) must be taken into the peace process since it could destabilize the peace atmosphere otherwise.

1220 GMT: The third judicial reform package passed from the Parliament but courts in both Ankara and Istanbul have refused to release jailed suspects in the ongoing investigation into the Feb. 28, 1997 military intervention and some journalists who are accused of being members of the Ergenekon network, claimed to be a 'terrorist' organisaiton aimed at toppling the government.

However, two convicted nationalists, who were judged and found guilty for having killed Turkey Labor Party members in 1978, were released this week. 

1150 GMT: the Voice of the People Party (HAS Party) leader Numan Kurtulmus had a meeting with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Following the meeting, Kurtulmus said that they received an invitation from the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) for a merger. Kurtulmus will be consulting his party members whether to merge with the AKP. 

1115 GMT: Syrian Kurdish opposition groups, the People's Assemby and Kurdish National Council, have signed the “Hewler Agreement” which calls for the unity of Kurds in Syria. According to this deal brokered by the Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government's President Massoud Barzani, a High Kurdish Council will consist of the creation of three expert committees; on National and Foreign Affairs, Public Services and Security.

People’s Assembly Co-President Ebdulselam Ehmed said: 

We aim to ensure that the peoples in Syria overthrow the Baath regime and establish a democratic system which will also recognize Kurdish people’s rights in the new constitution.

1025 GMT: Syria's defected ambasador to Iraq, Nawaf Fares, is reportedly seeking asylum in Turkey.

1000 GMT: Speaking at the third "Friends of Syria" meeting in Paris, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said that the pressure on Syria should be increased, as should the isolation of those countries who support the Assad regime. Foreign Ministry released a prompt statement saying that it was not the Russian nor Chinese Foreign Minister who was specifically targetted by the speech, and added: "No name of any country was mentioned during Foreign Minister's speech".