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By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend:

The year 2018 was one of the most memorable in the political and economic life of Turkey. In the country, it is already called the year of economic achievements, but the year 2018 can also be called the year of tourist boom in Turkey.

So, what were the most memorable events of 2018 in the country?

Historical union between Turkish opposition and ruling party

The leader of one of the biggest opposition movements in Turkey, namely, the Nationalist Movement Party Devlet Bahceli refused to nominate a candidate from the party during the presidential election in favor of the ruling Justice and Development Party.

Bahceli added that the Nationalist Movement Party will not nominate a candidate during the presidential election in 2019. He said that the Nationalist Movement Party will support incumbent President Erdogan if he puts forward his candidacy in the election.

Operation Olive Branch

On Jan. 20, Turkey’s Armed Forces, together with the Free Syrian Army, launched the large-scale Operation Olive Branch to dislodge PYD and YPG from Syria’s Afrin city.

Earlier, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said it is estimated that about 8,000-10,000 PYD and YPG terrorists are deployed in Afrin.

F-16 planes of the Turkish Air Force inflicted air strikes on the positions of PYD on the Syrian-Turkish border within the operation. More than 700 terrorists were killed within the Operation Olive Branch and three Turkish servicemen were killed during 12 days.

Commenting on the Operation Olive Branch, President Erdogan said that after the liberation of Syria’s Afrin from PYD and YPG militants, the Turkish armed forces will also launch operations to dislodge terrorists from Manbij.

Historic visit of Erdogan to Vatican

Erdogan visited Vatican at the invitation of Pope Francis. This was the first visit of senior Turkish official to Vatican over the past 59 years at the level of the country’s president.

As part of the visit, the sides discussed the US decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and the so-called Armenian genocide.

Turkey expressed its displeasure to the Vatican over the claims of Armenians in connection with the events of 1915.

Erdogan said that Pope Francis listened to his statements.

"Pope Francis is in solidarity with Turkey on the occasion of the so-called Armenian genocide," Erdogan said.

Turkish army takes control over all settlements along borders of Syria’s Afrin

Operation Olive Branch reached the next stage: Turkish Armed Forces took control over the whole border with Syrian Afrin district.

Turkish army prevented the so-called Syrian National Defense Forces from entering Afrin.

According to Erdogan, about 10 cars with allegedly pro-government forces wanted to enter Afrin. Turkish army opened a preventive fire, forcing intruders to retreat.

Turkish Armed Forces completely liberate administrative center of Afrin

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated that the Turkish Armed Forces and the Free Syrian Army had liberated the administrative center of the Syrian Afrin district from the PYD and YPG terrorists. After the liberation of the administrative center, Turkey sent humanitarian aid to Afrin, and announced beginning of the restoration of the city's infrastructure.

After establishing full control over Afrin, Erdogan said that the Turkish Armed Forces could enter Sinjar in northern Iraq to fight the PKK.

"If the Iraqi government delays the fight against the PKK, Turkey’s Armed Forces will solve this problem rapidly," Erdogan said.

Turkey tests ballistic missiles

Turkey successfully tested the first domestically developed ballistic missiles. The missiles were jointly developed by Turkey’s Scientific and Technological Research Council and the country’s Defense Industries Research And Development Institute.

For the first time they were presented at the IDEF 2017 13th International Defence Industry Fair in Istanbul.

Akkuyu nuclear power plant - dream becomes reality

In early April, the Turkish province of Mersin hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for laying foundation of Turkey's first nuclear power plant "Akkuyu", which was attended by the Presidents of Turkey and Russia - Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Vladimir Putin. Turkish Minister of energy and natural resources Berat Albayrak called the Akkuyu nuclear power plant a 60-year dream of Turkey.

Prior to Vladimir Putin's visit to Ankara, the Turkish Atomic Energy Agency issued a license for the construction of the first unit of nuclear power plant "Akkuyu". The agreement on the construction of Akkuyu NPP was signed on May 12, 2010 in Ankara between the Russian and Turkish governments, and on December 13 of the same year Akkuyu Nuclear JSC was registered. The Akkuyu NPP project involves the construction of four power units with Russian WWER-1200 reactor plants of 3+ generation that meet the highest post-Fukushima safety standards. The capacity of each unit will be 1200 MW. The cost of the project is estimated at $20 billion.

Central Bank of Turkey withdraws its gold reserves from the US

The Central Bank of Turkey transferred to Turkey its gold reserves, previously stored in the US Federal Reserve System. The total amount of gold reserves held by the Central Bank of Turkey in the United States was 220 tons.

Turkey also plans to increase the country's gold reserves through the sale of old cars. To this end, local municipalities will sell abandoned or confiscated cars, and the proceeds from the sale of these cars will be placed in state banks, and later sold for gold.

Turkey holds early parliamentary and presidential election

The leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Devlet Bahceli put forward an initiative of holding early parliamentary and presidential election in Turkey on April 17, 2018. Bahceli proposed to hold early elections on August 26, 2018. The next day, President Erdogan, following a meeting with Bahceli, said that early parliamentary election is necessary for Turkey, andthe election date was set for June 24, 2018. This statement by Erdogan was a surprise to Turkey's political parties.

Erdogan also said that the early election in Turkey is a cautionary step against the forces that intend to destabilize the country.

In turn, the Turkish parliament on April 20 approved a new date for early election. Some 386 deputies out of 537 voted for the early parliamentary and presidential election, and the election was held on June 24.

Opening ceremony of Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline

On June 12, the opening ceremony of the Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP) was held in Turkey with the participation of President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan, as well as other presidents.

“The Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP) is another victory of Turkey and Azerbaijan,” said President Aliyev.

“We in Azerbaijan are very glad for Turkey’s success under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Turkey has turned into a great power as a result of President Erdogan’s tireless activity,” said President Aliyev.