ANKARA (Sputnik) – The Turkish Foreign Ministry said Monday it had summoned the US ambassador to the country over "aggressive and unprofessional" actions of US security officials during the visit of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to the country.
On Tuesday, Erdogan's security personnel clashed with Kurdish protesters in the vicinity of the Turkish ambassador’s residence in Washington during the visit of the Turkish president to the United States. According to the local police, at least two people were arrested during the incident.
"The Ambassador of the Unites States of America in Ankara was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today and a written and verbal protest was delivered due to the aggressive and unprofessional actions taken, contrary to diplomatic rules and practices, by US security personnel towards the close protection team of H.E Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey, in front of the Turkish Embassy Chancery in Washington DC during the visit of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan last week," the statement read.
According to the statement, the Turkish Foreign Ministry expressed hope that the clashes would not overshadow the outcome of the visit.
The US Department of State said in a press release on Wednesday that Turkish security personnel had played a role in the incident and voiced its concern to the Turkish government. US House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce said those responsible for attacking protesters should be brought to justice.
