After foreign embassies stated that they abide by the non-interference diplomatic convention, Turkey and its Western allies eased from a full-scale diplomatic crisis on Monday, avoiding threats to expel 10 ambassadors.
President Tayyip Erdogan said over the weekend that he had ordered the envoy to be declared an “unwelcome person” as they sought to release a philanthropist who was sentenced to prison. He told a press conference The above stated that they have taken a step back and will be more careful.
“Our goal is by no means to create a crisis, but to protect the rights, laws, honor and sovereignty of our country,” Erdogan said in a televised speech after presiding over the cabinet meeting.
“The same embassy issued a new statement today, taking this slander of our country and our nation a step back. I believe these ambassadors…will be more cautious in their declarations on Turkish sovereign rights.”
Despite his provocative tone, Erdogan’s remarks on Monday clearly changed the tension he eased after threats over the weekend.
Last week, ambassadors, including the US envoy, called on the authorities to release Osman Kavala, a philanthropist who was detained for four years for funding protests and participating in an attempted coup. He denied the allegations.
The public appeals angered Ankara, and Ankara claimed that these diplomats — also from Germany, France, Canada, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland — were interfering in Turkey’s internal affairs.
On Monday afternoon, Erdogan convened a meeting of his ministers, which may confirm the expulsion and spark the deepest rift with the West in his 19 years in power. Several embassies issued a brief statement.
The U.S. Embassy said on Twitter: “The U.S. has noticed that it has always complied with Article 41 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.” Other embassies have posted similar messages or forwarded U.S. messages.
The Turkish version of the US statement stated that the embassy “confirmed” its compliance with the convention, and some observers said it could be interpreted as an indication that the embassy is committed to abiding by the convention in the future.
Aykan Erdemir, a former opposition MP, said on Twitter: “The strategy at work is ambiguous… Let Erdogan’s rotating doctor claim that the West has surrendered, while the English version is given domestically. The impression of the West has gained a firm foothold.”
The US State Department subsequently stated that the statement on Twitter on Monday was intended to “emphasize that our statement made on October 18 is consistent with Article 41” and added that it will seek dialogue with Turkey.
State Department spokesperson Ned Price said: “We are firmly committed to promoting the rule of law and promoting respect for human rights on a global scale.”
“The Biden administration seeks to cooperate with Turkey on common priorities, and like any NATO ally, we will continue to engage in dialogue to resolve any differences.”
A diplomatic source said that the US delegation and Turkish officials, including Presidential Advisor and Spokesperson Ibrahim Kalin (Ibrahim Kalin) and Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu (Mevlut Cavusoglu) led the relevant Negotiations on plans to ease tensions.
The source said that the envoy aimed to emphasize the principles of the Vienna Convention while seeking guidance from Turkish officials on Erdogan’s possible “delicious” move, adding that even if the Turkish government did not make any guarantees, they were cautiously Hope that Twitter’s statement will help ease tensions. .
Concerned investors
In response to the developments on Monday, the Turkish lira against the US dollar rebounded after hitting an all-time low of 9.85 earlier, and was reported at 9.5930 in 2053 GMT. This year, its value has shrunk by nearly a quarter.
Kavala, a businessman and a donor to civil society groups, is accused of funding national protests in 2013 and participating in an attempted coup in 2016. He was detained during the trial.
Human rights organizations said his case symbolized Erdogan’s repression of dissidents. Kavala said on Friday that he will no longer participate in the trial because a fair hearing is impossible after the president’s recent comments.
Diplomatic tensions have exacerbated investors’ concerns about the Turkish economy. Earlier, the Turkish Central Bank unexpectedly lowered interest rates by 200 points last week under the pressure of Erdogan’s demand to support growth, although inflation rose to nearly 20%.
Last week, after calling for a fair and prompt resolution of Kavala’s case and “emergency release”, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the 10 envoys.
Parliament Speaker Mustafa Sentop said earlier on Monday that the Turkish Constitution prohibits active court cases, including discussions by Turkish politicians in Parliament, and the envoy’s statement signifies “clear and disrespectful” intervention.
The European Court of Human Rights requested Kavala’s release two years ago, saying that there was no reasonable reason to suspect that he had committed a crime and that he was detained to silence him.
