The US began and ended the visa crisis, Erdoğan says

ISTANBUL

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Turkey did not want to have a visa crisis with the United States on Dec. 30, speaking in the northern province of Kastamonu.

“They started the visa crisis and thanks to them, they have ended it themselves. Great,” Erdoğan said.

“We did not want visa crisis [with the U.S.]. It is now ended. That is what should have happened anyway,” the president added.

Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım also on Dec. 30 said “relations [with the U.S.] have moved one step further towards normalization” after both the countries lifted restrictions on visa services.

“The visa issue has finally been resolved,” Yıldırım said at the 6th ordinary congress of ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party in northwestern Edirne province.