Anti-government video of Turkish diplomats triggers scandal, report claims

ANKARA

Turkey’s Arbil Consul Aydın Selcen was recalled to Ankara instead of being appointed as an ambassador. Hürriyet photo

A video dating back to eight years ago, which reportedly shows images of two Turkish diplomats on duty in Iraq speaking against the government, has turned into a scandal at the Turkish Foreign Ministry. However, the Ministry strongly denied the report in a statement today. The story was one-sided, the Ministry said.

The video of two Turkish diplomats, Turkey’s Arbil Consul Aydın Selcen and Middle East General Director Ethem Tokdemir, was recorded during a dinner to mark the end of Tokdemir’s tenure in Baghdad, Radikal said in a report on today's issue. The video was allegedly sent to the Foreign Ministry with a note saying: “They’re drinking alcohol and speaking against the government.”

The Ministry received an implicit threat that the video would be released on the Internet, but Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu reportedly prevented this from happening by taking the “necessary steps.”

Selcen was recalled to Ankara instead of being appointed as an ambassador, the report said.  The Arbil consul was working at the Turkish embassy in Iraq at the time. Tokdemir was removed from office and demanded his retirement.