ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – United States and Turkish diplomats held talks in an attempt to resolve the ongoing visa crisis between the two nations. The US State Department described the meetings as “productive.”
"Talks were productive and made substantial progress on the overall agenda; we will remain engaged as a matter of priority to address the relevant issues with a view to restore normal visa procedures swiftly," the US State Department told Turkey’s Anadolu Agency in a written statement late Wednesday.
Jonathan Cohen, US Deputy Secretary, who is leading the US diplomatic team, met with a Turkish delegation led by Foreign Ministry Deputy Undersecretary Ahmet Muhtar Gün. The meeting was also attended by deputy undersecretaries of both the interior and justice ministries.
“This was an unnecessary crisis,” Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told reporters at a press conference in Ankara earlier in the day. He stressed that the Turkish judiciary would not accept any imposition on changing their processes.
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.
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.
Amid the ongoing conflicts between Washington and Ankara regarding visa restrictions, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan called on the United States to “return to reason,” blaming former US Ambassador to Turkey John Bass for prompting the current visa dispute between the two NATO allies.
Bass had criticized Ankara for not providing any information regarding the initial arrest of Topuz.
“Our relations with Turkey are complicated,” said US State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert on Tuesday evening.
"Talks were productive and made substantial progress on the overall agenda; we will remain engaged as a matter of priority to address the relevant issues with a view to restore normal visa procedures swiftly," the US State Department told Turkey’s Anadolu Agency in a written statement late Wednesday.
Jonathan Cohen, US Deputy Secretary, who is leading the US diplomatic team, met with a Turkish delegation led by Foreign Ministry Deputy Undersecretary Ahmet Muhtar Gün. The meeting was also attended by deputy undersecretaries of both the interior and justice ministries.
“This was an unnecessary crisis,” Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told reporters at a press conference in Ankara earlier in the day. He stressed that the Turkish judiciary would not accept any imposition on changing their processes.
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.
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.
Amid the ongoing conflicts between Washington and Ankara regarding visa restrictions, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan called on the United States to “return to reason,” blaming former US Ambassador to Turkey John Bass for prompting the current visa dispute between the two NATO allies.
Bass had criticized Ankara for not providing any information regarding the initial arrest of Topuz.
“Our relations with Turkey are complicated,” said US State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert on Tuesday evening.
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