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Negotiations with the United States are progressing positively, a Turkish diplomatic source said on Thursday.
“Our negotiations with the U.S. are progressing positively. Both sides possess common sense. We expect positive results to be achieved soon,” the source said.
It was stated that the negotiations were being conducted with a group of officials close to U.S. President Donald Trump, and that Senator Lindsay Graham was a part of the group.
Russian lawmakers have criticized a U.S. move to impose sanctions on two Turkish Cabinet members as "counterproductive and destructive".Alexay Chepa, the deputy head of the International Committee of the State Duma, said in an interview with Anadolu Agency on Wednesday that imposing sanctions had become "kind of a U.S. routine"."Every day we hear some news that the U.S. either impose sanctions or announces a trade war against those who do not want to act as the U.S. wants," Chepa said.Iran FM slams US sanctions on Turkish gov’t ministers"At the same time the U.S. sticks with some politicians and organizations which are notorious for human rights violations but ready to do everything Washington tells them," he said.Senator Igor Morozov, a member of the International Committee of the Federation Council, told Anadolu Agency that sanctions are counterproductive, citing the U.S. and EU's sanctions against Russia."There is no doubt that sanctions destroy trust and because of that, economic, trade and other relations are changing. The U.S. is doing a destructive work leading to self-isolation," Morozov said.Parliament speaker calls US sanctions ‘unlawful and arbitrary’On Wednesday, White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said the U.S. would impose sanctions on Turkish Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu, and Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gül for not releasing American Pastor Andrew Craig Brunson, who faces terrorism charges in Turkey.Sanders said the U.S. would block "any property, or interest in property of the two ministers".Turkish Foreign Ministry on Wednesday strongly protested against U.S. Treasury Department's decision, calling on the U.S. administration to reverse its "wrong decision".US is a threat to Turkey: İbrahim KaragülBrunson has been charged with spying for the PKK -- a designated terrorist group in the U.S. and Turkey -- and U.S.-based Fetullah Gülen and the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETÖ), the group behind the defeated July 2016 coup attempt in Turkey which martyred 251 people and injured thousands.Ankara also accuses FETÖ of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police, and judiciary.Turkey will not hesitate to respond to US sanctions: Dep presidentInterior minister slams US sanctions move
Russian lawmakers slam US sanctions move against Turkey
On Wednesday, White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said the U.S. would impose sanctions on Turkish Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu, and Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gül for not releasing American Pastor Andrew Craig Brunson, who faces terrorism charges in Turkey.
Sanders said the U.S. would block "any property, or interest in property of the two ministers".
The Turkish Foreign Ministry on Wednesday strongly protested against U.S. Treasury Department's decision, calling on the U.S. administration to reverse its "wrong decision".
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Wednesday that Turkey had no problems with religious minorities in the country, and that the threatening language of the United States would not benefit anyone. On Tuesday, in a joint declaration, Turkey's minority community representatives -- including followers of the Greek Orthodox and Armenian churches -- said that people of different faiths live "freely".
Erdoğan slams ‘US evangelist, Zionist mentality’
Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif has condemned a U.S. decision to impose sanctions on two Turkish government ministers in retaliation for the ongoing detention of an American pastor facing terrorism charges in Turkey.“These unlawful U.S. sanctions on two Turkish government ministers -- from an allied country -- illustrate the U.S. administration's longstanding policy of pressure and extortion,” Zarif tweeted on Thursday.On Wednesday night, White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders announced that the U.S. had imposed sanctions on Turkish Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu and Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gül.Turkish Bar Association slams US sanction moveBrunson has been accused by the Turkish authorities of spying for the PKK (which has been a designated as a terrorist group by both the U.S. and Turkey) and U.S.-based Fetullah Gulen and the latter’s Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETÖ), which orchestrated Turkey’s failed July 2016 coup attempt that left 251 martyrs in its wake.Ankara also accuses FETÖ of carrying out a long-running campaign to overthrow the Turkish state through the infiltration of state institutions.Parliament speaker calls US sanctions ‘unlawful and arbitrary’US is a threat to Turkey: İbrahim KaragülUS sanctions move 'abdication of reason': Turkish MPTurkey will not hesitate to respond to US sanctions: Dep presidentInterior minister slams US sanctions move
Iran FM slams US sanctions on Turkish gov’t ministers
The Turkish Bar Association on Thursday criticized the U.S. move to impose sanctions on two Turkish ministers for not releasing an American pastor, who faces terrorism charges in Turkey.Metin Feyzioglu, the association's head, said in a statement: "Threatening messages and sanctions issued against our country for the release of their citizen detained in Turkey by relevant authorities of the United States are unacceptable."He asserted that such a move by the U.S. not only undermines international law but also is an attempt to interfere with the justice system of a sovereign state.Parliament speaker calls US sanctions ‘unlawful and arbitrary’Feyzioglu described the U.S. move as "contrary to rule of law", adding: "Some U.S. officials have rather taken a hammer in their hands and treat every problem they face in foreign policy as nails."Turkish judiciary will give a verdict in accordance with universal rules for fair trial. No one should doubt this."Recalling that Turkey and the U.S. are allies, Feyzioglu stressed that such alliance is not just important for the two nations but also for the entire world."Basis of an alliance is having mutual respect for international law and the sovereign rights of states," he said.US sanctions move 'abdication of reason': Turkish MPOn Wednesday night, White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said the U.S. was imposing sanctions on Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu and Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gul for not releasing American Pastor Andrew Craig Brunson.Sanders said the U.S. would block "any property, or interest in property of the two ministers".Brunson has been charged in Turkey with spying for the PKK -- a designated terrorist group in the U.S. and Turkey -- and U.S.-based Fetullah Gulen and the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETÖ), the group behind the defeated July 2016 coup attempt in Turkey which martyred 251 people and injured thousands.Turkey issues arrest warrants for 27 FETÖ suspectsAnkara also accuses FETÖ of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police, and judiciary.
Turkish Bar Association slams US sanction move