Ankara [Turkey], February 3: Turkey on February 2 summoned the ambassadors of nine Western countries, including the US and Sweden, to criticize the temporary closure of their diplomatic missions by these countries.
Reuters reported that Turkey on February 2 summoned the ambassadors of nine Western countries, including the US and Sweden, to protest against these countries' security warnings and temporary closure of diplomatic missions after the burning of the Koran in Europe. A source in the Turkish Foreign Ministry said diplomatic representatives of Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Britain were also summoned.
For the past two weeks, far-right activists in Sweden, Denmark and the Netherlands have burned the Koran during protests. European countries condemned the move, but said they could not stop the action because of free speech rules.
So France, Germany, Italy and the US last week issued warnings to their citizens about the increased risk of attacks in Turkey, especially targeting diplomatic missions and places of worship. non-Muslim. Germany, France and the Netherlands also temporarily closed their diplomatic missions in Turkey for security reasons this week.
"These coordinated activities are not a proportionate, rational approach and only facilitate the covert plots of terrorist organizations," said an unnamed source in the Turkish Foreign Ministry . .
The source added that the security of all diplomatic missions is guaranteed in accordance with international conventions and that "allies should cooperate with" the Turkish government .
Turkish Interior Minister SuleymanSoylu also wrote on Twitter that embassies were waging "a new psychological war" against Turkey.
The US Embassy in Turkey confirmed that Ambassador Jeffry Flake attended a meeting at the Turkish Foreign Ministry on February 2. Two European diplomatic sources said the ambassadors of Germany, France and the Netherlands were also summoned.
The Kiran burnings prompted Turkey to suspend negotiations regarding Sweden and Finland's accession to NATO. Sweden and Finland applied to join the union last year, but faced opposition from Turkey.
Since then, Stockholm and Helsinki have sought to gain Ankara's support, including agreeing hard with what Turkey considers members of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). The PKK is considered a terrorist group by Ankara and the European Union.
Police in Norway on February 2 banned a planned anti-Muslim protest, including the burning of the Koran, because of security concerns. The move came hours after the Turkish Foreign Ministry summoned Norway's ambassador to lodge a complaint.
Source: ThanhNien Newspaper
