Turkey criticizes Western countries over closing diplomatic missions
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Turkey criticized on Thursday the decisions of some Western countries to temporarily close their diplomatic missions in Ankara and Istanbul over security alerts.
Last week, the US Embassy and Consulates in Turkey issued a security alert, saying, “Terrorists could attack with little or no warning, targeting places of worship or places Westerners frequent.”
The French government, too, cautioned its citizens in Turkey against possible attacks following the burning of Quran in Stockholm.
In addition to the US and France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands issued warnings to their citizens of an increased risk of attacks in Turkey, particularly against diplomatic missions. They temporarily closed their diplomatic missions in Turkey for security reasons.
In response, Turkey summoned on Thursday the ambassadors of the US and Sweden, and the envoys of Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Britain to criticize their decisions to temporarily close diplomatic missions and issue security alerts following Quran-burning incidents in Europe, according to sources from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Ankara.
Minister of Interior, Suleyman Soylu, said on Twitter the embassies were waging “a new psychological war” against Turkey.
On January 22, protests broke supporting Kurds out in Stockholm. At a separate protest, a Swedish man burned a copy of the Quran near the Turkish embassy as tensions between the two countries have risen due to Turkey’s refusal to approve Sweden’s NATO bid.