Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned the temporary closure of the consulates of several Western countries in Istanbul under the pretext of security threats. This is reported by the Anadolu agency.
The head of state warned that Ankara would take appropriate retaliatory steps if diplomatic missions continued to remain closed:
“Recently, our Foreign Ministry summoned the ambassadors of these countries and issued them an ultimatum. It said that if these countries continue to act like this, they will pay a heavy price.”
According to him, “necessary decisions” regarding the current situation will be made at the upcoming meeting of the Turkish Cabinet of Ministers.
Former Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said that the actions of these countries are “purposeful”.
Against the background of the temporary suspension of the work of the consulates general of several states in Istanbul, the ambassadors of nine countries were summoned to the Turkish Foreign Ministry.
