Turkish President and Chairman of the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) and Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim (L) attend the AK Party's group meeting at the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) in Ankara, on October 3, 2017.
Turkish police on October 3, 2017, arrested 35 local authority officials in Istanbul over alleged ties to last year's failed coup, just weeks after the city's long-serving mayor stepped down, state media reported. / AFP PHOTO / ADEM ALTAN
Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) and Turkish prime minister Binali Yildirim (L) attend the AK Party's group meeting at the Grand National Assembly of Turkey in Ankara, on October 3, 2017. AdShow more

Turkish PM says visa dispute with US must be fixed quickly



The United States decision to suspend visa services in Turkey has punished citizens of both countries, Turkey's prime minister said on Tuesday, accusing Washington of taking an emotional and inappropriate step against an ally.

Binali Yildirim called on the United States to move quickly to end a dispute which rattled Turkish markets on Monday and plunged relations between Ankara and Washington to a new low after months of tension.

In a blunt speech to ruling AK Party parliamentarians, he also defended Turkey's arrest of a US consulate employee which prompted the US move, and Turkey's reciprocal visa suspension.

"Turkey is not a tribal state, we will retaliate against what has been done in kind," Mr Yildirim said.

Turkey says the arrested consulate worker had links to US-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, blamed by Ankara for orchestrating a failed military coup against president Recep Tayyip Erdogan in which more than 240 people were killed.

Mr Gulen has denied involvement in the coup attempt and US ambassador John Bass said on Monday night that the embassy had not been told what evidence existed against the employee. The length of the visa suspension would depend on the extent of Turkey's protection for the embassy and its staff, he said.

"Who are you punishing?" Mr Yildirim said. "You are making your citizens and ours pay the price."

"We call on the United States to be more reasonable. The issue must of course be resolved as soon as possible," he said, describing US behaviour as "unbecoming" of an ally.

__________________

Read more: 

US, Turkey suspend vise services over security concerns

Turkey asks US to 'review' visa services suspension as it summons second consulate worker

__________________

Relations between the countries have been plagued by disputes over US support for Kurdish fighters in Syria and Turkey's calls for Mr Gulen's extradition.

US courts have also indicted a Turkish banker and a former minister for conspiring to violate US sanctions on Iran, as well as 15 of Mr Erdogan's security guards for attacking peaceful protesters during his visit to Washington in May.

"Did you ask permission from us when you dragged a general manager from our national bank into jail?" Mr Yildirim said. "Why are you harbouring Gulen? Does this fit our alliance or friendship?"

Mr Yildirim said if the United States wanted to continue its alliance with Turkey it should stop support for YPG fighters battling ISIL in Syria. Turkey says the YPG is an extension of the outlawed PKK which has fought a three-decade insurgency in southeast Turkey.

"Siding with our enemies is not fitting our alliances," he said.

Turkey's currency and stock market were both hit on Monday by the dispute. On Tuesday, the main BIST 100 stock index picked up slightly, rising 1.2 per cent at 1130 GMT, and the lira was also up 0.5 per cent at 3.68 to the dollar.

Secret Pigeon Service: Operation Colomba, Resistance and the Struggle to Liberate Europe
Gordon Corera, Harper Collins

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Results

5pm: Wadi Nagab – Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,200m; Winner: Al Falaq, Antonio Fresu (jockey), Ahmed Al Shemaili (trainer)

5.30pm: Wadi Sidr – Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,200m; Winner: AF Majalis, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel

6pm: Wathba Stallions Cup – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: AF Fakhama, Fernando Jara, Mohamed Daggash

6.30pm: Wadi Shees – Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Mutaqadim, Antonio Fresu, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami

7pm: Arabian Triple Crown Round-1 – Listed (PA) Dh230,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Bahar Muscat, Antonio Fresu, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami

7.30pm: Wadi Tayyibah – Maiden (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Poster Paint, Patrick Cosgrave, Bhupat Seemar

COMPANY PROFILE

Company name: Switch Foods
Started: 2022
Founder: Edward Hamod
Based: Abu Dhabi, UAE
Industry: Plant-based meat production
Number of employees: 34
Funding: $6.5 million
Funding round: Seed
Investors: Based in US and across Middle East

Specs: 2024 McLaren Artura Spider

Engine: 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 and electric motor
Max power: 700hp at 7,500rpm
Max torque: 720Nm at 2,250rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed dual-clutch auto
0-100km/h: 3.0sec
Top speed: 330kph
Price: From Dh1.14 million ($311,000)
On sale: Now

Name: Brendalle Belaza

From: Crossing Rubber, Philippines

Arrived in the UAE: 2007

Favourite place in Abu Dhabi: NYUAD campus

Favourite photography style: Street photography

Favourite book: Harry Potter

Poacher

Director: Richie Mehta

Starring: Nimisha Sajayan, Roshan Mathew, Dibyendu Bhattacharya

Rating: 3/5

MEDIEVIL (1998)

Developer: SCE Studio Cambridge
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Console: PlayStation, PlayStation 4 and 5
Rating: 3.5/5