Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu and Mike Pompeo
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu agreed on Friday to try to resolve a series of disputes, after relations between the NATO allies sank to their lowest point in decades.
Their meeting in Singapore followed Washington's imposition on Wednesday of sanctions on two Turkish ministers over the case of Andrew Brunson, a U.S. pastor on trial in Turkey for backing terrorism.
State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert described their conversation on the sidelines of a regional ministers' meeting as constructive. "They agreed to continue to try to resolve the issues between our two countries," she said.
The United States and Turkey have agreed to work closely to resolve issues between them, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said on Friday, following what he said was a "constructive" meeting with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.Çavuşoğlu and Pompeo met on the sidelines of a meeting of regional ministers in Singapore. Their talks came after Washington imposed sanctions on two of Turkish President Tayyip Erdoğan's ministers over the trial of a U.S. pastor accused of backing terrorism. Turkey has said the sanctions are unacceptable.Çavuşoğlu, in comments to Turkish broadcasters, said he and Pompeo had also discussed potential joint steps the two countries could take regarding Syria's Idlib and Manbij. The NATO allies have also been at odds over Syria policy.Turkish FM, US counterpart meet in SingaporeUS, Turkish foreign ministers agree to try to resolve issues
Turkey and US agreed to work closely to resolve issues, Turkish minister says
Çavuşoğlu said he had repeated Turkey's message that "the threatening language and sanctions does not achieve anything", but added that he and Pompeo would take steps to resolve their differences when they returned home.
"Of course you can't expect all issues to be resolved in a single meeting," he told Turkish television channels. "But we have agreed to work together, closely cooperate and keep the dialogue in the coming period," he added, also describing the talks as very constructive.
Washington imposed sanctions on Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gül and Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu, accusing them of playing leading roles in organisations responsible for the arrest and detention of Brunson, an evangelical Christian who has lived in Turkey for more than two decades.
Treasury and Finance Minister Berat Albayrak on Thursday called the U.S. sanctions on two Turkish ministers "unacceptable".In a statement, Albayrak said Turkey's priority is to resolve the U.S. sanctions issue through "diplomacy and constructive efforts appropriate for two countries and allies with strong historical background". "If the U.S. insists on making a mistake, its impact will be limited on Turkey and Turkish economy," he added.Turkey expects positive results in talks with US over sanctions spatOn Wednesday, White House spokesperson Sarah Sanders said the U.S. has imposed sanctions on Suleyman Soylu, the interior minister, and Abdulhamit Gul, the justice minister, for not releasing American Pastor Andrew Craig Brunson, who faces terrorism charges in Turkey.The finance minister also spoke about Turkey's medium-term program."We made the first meeting of our medium-term program," he said.Russian lawmakers slam US sanctions move against TurkeyHe said austerity measures and necessary steps for budget discipline and economic balance had been put in place in Turkey."On the other hand, our meetings for short-and-medium term external financing are proceeding positively," he said.He added the Turkish economy will be based on healthy and sustainable growth after balance is provided to Turkey's economy."There is no doubt, Turkey keeps growing robustly," he said.Iran FM slams US sanctions on Turkish gov’t ministersUS is a threat to Turkey: İbrahim Karagül
Turkey says US sanctions unacceptable, have limited economic impact
Within hours Turkey vowed to retaliate "without delay" but since then the tone of comments from Ankara has moderated and so far it has taken no such step. Finance minister Berat Albayrak, who is President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's son-in-law, also said relations with the United States would never break down, despite the temporary escalation.
Pompeo told reporters the United States had put Turkey on notice "that the clock had run and it was time for Pastor Brunson to be returned".
"I hope they'll see this for what it is, a demonstration that we’re very serious," he said of the sanctions. "We consider this one of the many issues that we have with the Turks."
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 slam US sanctions move against TurkeyOn 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".Video: Erdoğan slams ‘US evangelist, Zionist mentality’Iran FM slams US sanctions on Turkish gov’t ministersTurkish Bar Association slams US sanction move
Turkey expects positive results in talks with US over sanctions spat
"Brunson needs to come home. As do all the Americans being held by the Turkish government. Pretty straightforward. They’ve been holding these folks for a long time. These are innocent people," he said. "We are going to work to see if we can find a way forward; I am hopeful that we can."
The United States has also been seeking the release of three locally employed embassy staff detained in Turkey.
Brunson has been accused by the Turkish authorities of spying for the PKK (which has been designated as a terrorist group by both the U.S. and Turkey) and U.S.-based Fetullah Gülen 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.
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