Ankara sends diplomatic note over ‘violence outside Turkish mission in Washington’

The Turkish Foreign Ministry summoned the U.S. Ambassador to Ankara on May 22 to convey a diplomatic note over a street brawl outside the Turkish diplomatic mission in Washington during Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s visit to the US.

“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 unproffessional actions taken, contrary to diplomatic rules and practices, by US security personnel towards the close protection team of H.E Mevlut Cavusoglu, 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 Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

It has been formally requested that the US authorities conduct a full investigation of ‘this diplomatic incident and provide the necessary explanation.’

“During the meeting with the Ambassador, it was emphasized that the lapses of security experienced during our President’s stay in Washington, which were caused by the inability of US authorities to take sufficient precautions at every stage of the official program, will not overshadow what in every other aspect was a very successful and important visit,” the Ministry said.

A group of peaceful demonstrators protesting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s official visit to the United States, were attacked by Erdogan’s security detail at the Sheridan Circle near the residence of the Turkish Ambassador to the U.S. last week.