International

The improvement of U.S. relations with Turkey in question after the arrest of the employee of the American Consulate General in Istanbul by Turkish authorities, said at a briefing the official representative of US state Department Heather Nauert.
     «I believe that the Secretary of state would improve relations with Turkey as with other countries. If you pay attention to Russia, another country with which we would like to establish a relationship. But now it is open to question because of the actions carried out by the Turkish government,» she said.
     According to her, the situation in us-Turkish relations have changed after the incident. Nauert added that Tillerson never talked with his Turkish counterpart in this regard.
     She also noted that the Turkish authorities must provide a detainee access to a lawyer, who has not been granted.
     The U.S. Embassy in Ankara earlier said that the U.S. government expresses deep concern over the arrest of an employee of the American Consulate General in Istanbul Metin Toposa and considers the allegations against him are unfounded and undermining long-standing relationship with Turkey. On Sunday, the U.S. Embassy announced the suspension of the issuance of nonimmigrant visas at U.S. diplomatic missions in Turkey. The Turkish Embassy responded with a mirror, announcing the suspension of issuing visas for American citizens.