BFF-63 Turkey to freeze assets of 2 U.S. ministers as retaliation

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ZCZC

BFF-63

TURKEY-U.S.-DIPLOMACY

Turkey to freeze assets of 2 U.S. ministers as retaliation

ANKARA, Aug 4, 2018 (BSS/Xinhua) – Turkey will freeze the assets of two
U.S. ministers in Turkey, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on
Saturday, as a response to Washington’s sanction over the detention of a U.S.
pastor.

“We have had shown patience until yesterday evening. Today I am
instructing my friends to freeze the assets of U.S. justice and interior
ministers in Turkey,” Erdogan said during a convention of ruling Justice and
Development Party (AKP) in Ankara.

The latest sanction move taken by the U.S. was serious disrespect and
unsuitable to a strategic partner, Erdogan added.

The ties between the two NATO rallies were once again strained by the U.S.
sanctions on Turkish interior and justice ministers since Wednesday,
following a Turkish court rejected pastor Brunson’s release appeal.

On Friday, top diplomats of Turkey and the U.S. met in Singapore on the
sidelines of ASEAN foreign ministers’ meeting, stressing to work together to
resolve issues via diplomatic path.

BSS/XINHUA/FI/ 1846 hrs