kayhan.ir

News ID: 45144
Publish Date : 11 October 2017 - 20:14

Turkey Hopes U.S. Will Lift Decision on Visa Embargo




ANKARA (Dispatches) – Turkey hopes the United States will lift its decision on suspending visa services soon, the spokesman for the ruling AK Party said on Wednesday.
Speaking at an interview with broadcaster A Haber, Mahir Unal said Ankara hopes the escalating dispute between the NATO allies will not impact military operations. Turkey was holding talks at the foreign ministry level to resolve the U.S. visa crisis, he also said.
The row broke out last week after a U.S. consulate employee was arrested in Istanbul. The U.S. and Turkey have suspended all non-immigrant visa services for travel between the two countries.
Turkey has also been involved in diplomatic brawls with some European countries, mainly over Ankara’s human rights records. The EU is now considering suspension of the process of Turkey’s accession to the bloc.
Over 100 journalists have been jailed in Turkey and nearly 200 media outlets were shut down since a coup attempt against the government of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on July 15, 2016.
The Turkish government accuses the U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gulen of having orchestrated the attempted coup. Gulen, a former Erdogan ally turned arch-foe, has denied the allegation.
Turkey has called on the U.S. to extradite Gulen, but the demand has not been taken heed of.
Turkey, which remains in a state of emergency since the coup, has been engaged in suppressing the media and opposition groups suspected to have played a role in the failed coup.
On Tuesday, Turkish police reportedly launched an operation across seven provinces to arrest 70 military personnel over their alleged links to Gulen.