Turkey retracted its decision to expel the ambassadors of 10 Western countries, including the United States, after declaring its respect for the Vienna Convention on non-interference in internal affairs.
The embassies of the United States, Canada, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Germany and France tweeted on Monday that they are adhering to Article 41 of the aforementioned rule in which envoys do not interfere in internal affairs. of the countries in which they serve.
Top representatives of the 10 countries last week called for the release of businessman Osman Kavala, who is imprisoned for his alleged participation in the 2013 Gezi Park protests and the subsequent riots, and in the attempted coup. 2016.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan welcomed the statements of the Western missions, according to sources in the presidency, reported by Anadolu Agency, who requested anonymity.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the ambassadors of these countries, accusing them of interfering in the Turkish judiciary.
Erdogan said earlier today that diplomats had violated the country’s sovereignty by justifying declaring people not free, a decision that the European Union described as dangerous.
Leaving the cabinet meeting at the capital’s presidential complex, Erdogan said that Turkey cannot tolerate ambassadors questioning its judiciary.
The president, who on Saturday instructed the Foreign Ministry to designate the 10 representatives as diplomatic persona non grata, said that anyone who does not respect Turkey’s independence and the sensitivity of the Turkish nation cannot live in this country, regardless of their title.
Meanwhile, the community’s spokesman for foreign affairs, Peter Stano, considered the expulsion of the diplomats a serious matter.
“It is serious, but we understand that the countries concerned have not yet been notified of any action,” he said during the European Commission’s regular press conference.
But he made it clear that they had taken note of the Turkish decision and that they would monitor events closely.
Kavala was arrested for protests in Gezi in 2013, which later led to anti-government demonstrations and eight were killed.
In 2016, he was arrested on suspicion of espionage in connection with that year’s failed coup against Erdogan.
The author of this coup attempt is attributed to the Muslim cleric based in the United States, Fethullah Gulen.
“Award-winning alcohol trailblazer. Hipster-friendly internetaholic. Twitter ninja. Infuriatingly humble beer lover. Pop culture nerd.”