Turkish Foreign Ministry bans use of cell phones at press conferences

ANKARA – Hürriyet Daily News

The cell phones of the media members who were to attend the press conference of FM Davutoğlu with his Albanian counterpart Ditmir Bushati were collected on April 18. AA Photo

The Turkish Foreign Ministry has banned the use of cell phones by the press inside the Foreign Ministry.

The ban comes as part of security measures in the headquarters to prevent attempts at espionage, after the leak of a top security meeting.

The cell phones of the media members who were to attend the press conference of Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu with his Albanian counterpart Ditmir Bushati were collected on April 18 at the front security desk of the Foreign Ministry building.

The ban to confiscate cell phones is valid for all guests entering the ministry headquarters, including diplomats, ministry personnel and other Turkish officials.

The move is part of a substantial plan to tighten security inside the ministry in the wake of the illegal recording of a meeting between Turkey’s top security officials, including the foreign minister. 

A recording of a high-level security meeting on Syria at the Foreign Ministry was leaked through social media ahead of the March 30 elections.

Davutoğlu reiterated that “meticulous work” is being conducted for the investigation of the leak of a top security meeting, taking account all possibilities, including foreign espionage.

“Very careful work has been conducted, taking into account of every possibility, including foreign espionage and internal leaks,” said the minister.

When asked whether there were any concrete findings concerning the investigation, the minister said the authorities were conducting a very serious and meticulous investigation and they need to wait until the investigation has been concluded and an official statement is made.