US should learn they will not achieve results with sanctions against Turkey: Top diplomat

ANKARA

The United States has to learn that it can’t achieve results with sanctions, threats and pressure on Turkey, the Turkish foreign minister has said, reiterating that Ankara is ready to find a solution to the ongoing row through dialogue and diplomacy.

“It’s impossible for us to accept these sanctions and threats. Our expectation from the U.S. is to remain loyal to our traditional friendship and our NATO alliance,” Foreign Minister Mevlğt Çavuşoğlu said in an address to the Turkish ambassadors during an annual conference in Ankara on Aug 13.

The United States has imposed political and economic sanctions on Turkey over the continued detention of Pastor Andrew Brunson. Washington has threatened that more sanctions could be imposed if the pastor would not be released and sent home.

“The U.S. is in a confusion. ‘Should we resolve this problem with Turkey or should we maintain it until November elections?'” Çavuşoğlu said, referring to mid-term polls for the U.S. Congress.

The minister stressed that the U.S. should learn that they will not achieve any results with sanctions while calling for more dialogue and diplomacy.

“Turkey has done enough to repair ties”, he said, underlining that the culture of compromise requires both sides’ steps for resolving questions.

Çavuşoğlu also recalled that the U.S. has not taken any concrete step on Turkey’s extradition request for Fethullah Gülen, believed to be the mastermind of July 2016 coup attempt and has acted contrary to the alliance regarding the fundamental security issues of Turkey.