ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – A diplomatic team from the United States is due to arrive in Ankara late on Monday in an attempt to resolve the visa crisis between the two nations.
Jonathan Cohen, Deputy Assistant Secretary for the European and Eurasian Affairs at the US State Department, will lead the mission with plans to meet with Turkish officials on Tuesday to discuss visa restrictions imposed by both nations, a Turkish Foreign Ministry official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told state run Anadolu Agency.
The spat began earlier this month when Turkey arrested Metin Topuz, a US consulate employee in Istanbul, on allegations of terrorism and ties to the Gulen Movement, the group led by US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen and accused of orchestrating last years failed coup attempt. Gulen has denied such charges.
Last week, Turkish authorities issued a summons for another employee of the US Istanbul consulate while officials called on the US to end the suspension.
The US responded to the consulate employee’s arrest by announcing the suspension of non-immigrant visa services in Turkey, citing concerns about the security of the staff at its missions.
Within minutes, Turkey’s embassy in Washington issued a similar suspension of visa services in the US.
Statements made by former US Ambassador to Turkey, John Bass, confirmed that the decision for visa suspensions was made in coordination with the National Security Council, the State Department, and the White House.
Bass was accused by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of allowing “agents” to infiltrate the US missions.
Bass left Turkey over the weekend as he had previously been reassigned to a new post as US Ambassador to Afghanistan.
He is due to be temporarily replaced by Deputy Chief of Mission Philip Kosnett until a new ambassador is appointed.
Amid the ongoing conflicts between Washington and Ankara regarding visa restrictions, Erdoğan called on the United States to “return to reason,” blaming Bass for prompting the current visa crisis between the two NATO allies.
Jonathan Cohen, Deputy Assistant Secretary for the European and Eurasian Affairs at the US State Department, will lead the mission with plans to meet with Turkish officials on Tuesday to discuss visa restrictions imposed by both nations, a Turkish Foreign Ministry official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told state run Anadolu Agency.
The spat began earlier this month when Turkey arrested Metin Topuz, a US consulate employee in Istanbul, on allegations of terrorism and ties to the Gulen Movement, the group led by US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen and accused of orchestrating last years failed coup attempt. Gulen has denied such charges.
Last week, Turkish authorities issued a summons for another employee of the US Istanbul consulate while officials called on the US to end the suspension.
The US responded to the consulate employee’s arrest by announcing the suspension of non-immigrant visa services in Turkey, citing concerns about the security of the staff at its missions.
Within minutes, Turkey’s embassy in Washington issued a similar suspension of visa services in the US.
Statements made by former US Ambassador to Turkey, John Bass, confirmed that the decision for visa suspensions was made in coordination with the National Security Council, the State Department, and the White House.
Bass was accused by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of allowing “agents” to infiltrate the US missions.
Bass left Turkey over the weekend as he had previously been reassigned to a new post as US Ambassador to Afghanistan.
He is due to be temporarily replaced by Deputy Chief of Mission Philip Kosnett until a new ambassador is appointed.
Amid the ongoing conflicts between Washington and Ankara regarding visa restrictions, Erdoğan called on the United States to “return to reason,” blaming Bass for prompting the current visa crisis between the two NATO allies.
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