Critical comments from the U.S. Ambasssador disturbs government
It is a known fact nowadays that Turkey and the United States disaccord in regards several major foreign policy issues and have been experiencing sort of tension between administrations, from time to time.
Now, on top of this unfavorable situation the most recent critical comments from the U.S. Ambasssador regarding the undemocratic nature of the Turkish judicial system has caused great disturbance in government circles.
Mr. Francis Ricciardone, the US Ambassador in Ankara had forwarded tough criticism towards the practices of the Turkish Judiciary hinting the long detained generals and the journalist in specific.
During a recent meeting with Ankara media bureau chiefs, Ricciardone had criticized the arrests of military officers, non-violent protesters and professors on unclear charges and said “You have your military leaders, who were entrusted with the protection of this country, behind bars as if they were terrorists,” referring to hundreds of military officers behind bars as part of the ongoing “Balyoz” (Sledgehammer) and other court cases.
The Ambassador had also added “When a legal system produces such results and confuses people like that for terrorists, it makes it hard for American and European courts to match up. We are working to reconcile our legal processes in both countries”.
Upon these statements, Mr. Ricciardione received strong criticism and this was conveyed to him by Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Feridun Sinirlioğlu who expressed the disturbance of the government about the incident in a meeting with Ricciardone held in Ankara.
The meeting was said to have taken place upon the request of the U.S. embassy to thank Turkish officials over their efforts in the aftermath of last week’s suicide bombing at the embassy. However, it is understood that Ricciardone’s recent statements and other top issues regarding cooperation against terrorism were also brought to the table and the Turkish side is reported to have conveyed the discomfort with said statements.
It was reported that the issues raised in Ricciardone’s meeting with journalists on Feb. 6, a U.S. had been discussed in the meeting and the undersecretary had made clear his government’s disappointment at what he saw as interference in Turkey’s domestic affairs. It was also reported that the Ambassador in return had respectfully pointed out the importance of Turkey’s steady progress in strengthening the rule of law and protections of human rights to Turkey’s friends and allies, and urged a careful reading of the full text of the Feb. 5 conversation, which is available on the U.S. Embassy website.”
08.02.2013
SOURCE: MEDIA & BTT
