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US Suspends All Non-Immigrant Visa Services In Turkey

By Turkishminute.com
International US Suspends All Non-Immigrant Visa Services In Turkey
OCT 16, 2017 LISTEN

Departing US Ambassador to Turkey John Bass issued a statement on Monday regarding the US decision to suspend non-immigrant visa services at its missions in Turkey, saying that resolution of the situation depends on the Turkish government’s commitment to protecting US facilities and personnel in the country.

In his statement, released on the US Embassy & Consulates in Turkey website, the departing ambassador said: “Last week, for the second time this year, a Turkish staff member of our diplomatic mission was arrested by Turkish authorities. Despite our best efforts to learn the reasons for this arrest, we have been unable to determine why it occurred or what, if any, evidence exists against the employee. The employee works in an office devoted to strengthening law enforcement cooperation with Turkish authorities and ensuring the security of Americans and Turkish citizens. Furthermore, our colleague has not been allowed sufficient access to his attorney.”

Regarding the accusations of espionage leveled against the employee, Bass said: “Let me be clear: Strengthening law enforcement cooperation between the United States and Turkey was the employee’s job. Speaking to and traveling with Turkish police was a part of his regular duties, and the Turkish government has not shared any information to indicate the employee was involved in any illegal activity.

Our local staff members are Turkish citizens and we, of course, expect them to observe Turkish law like any other citizen of the Republic. They have a right to expect Turkish authorities will provide appropriate legal protections and due process, including the presumption of innocence until proven otherwise, in accordance with the Turkish constitution, and the principles of rule of law that all modern democracies follow.”

In his statement, the ambassador also stated that this decision is not a visa ban on Turkish citizens but a suspension of new visa applications made in Turkey. Bass underlined that “if you [Turkish citizens] have a valid visa, you can still travel to the United States. If you want to apply for a visa at another US embassy or consulate outside of Turkey, you are free to do so.”

Bass also indicated that their decision is open-ended until a solution is found to the crisis. He said: “We hope it will not last long, but at this time we can’t predict how long it will take to resolve this matter. The duration will be a function of ongoing discussions between our two governments about the reasons for the detention of our local staff members and the Turkish government’s commitment to protecting our facilities and our personnel here in Turkey.”

Speaking to a group of journalists in İstanbul on Friday, John Bass, the departing US ambassador to Turkey, said some in the Turkish government are motivated by “vengeance rather than justice,” voicing concern at coverage in pro-government media outlets of the arrest of Topuz.

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