US: 'Don’t Want to Have People We Employ Be Detained Without Evidence'

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Speaking at the daily press briefing today (October 18), US Department of State Spokesperson Heather Nauert stated that Turkey still had not provided the US the evidence regarding the arrest of two staff members of the US Diplomatic Mission in Turkey.

"Still no evidence despite claims of engagement in some sort of terrorist-type activities"

Answering the questions regarding the recent tension between the US and Turkey, Spokesperson for the US Department of State Heather Nauert said:

"The Government of Turkey claims that they were engaged in some sort of terrorist-type activities. That's obviously a very serious charge. We'd like to see the evidence on that. We have yet to see that evidence. If they have evidence, by all means, please do provide it, but we have yet to see it, and they are still in custody.

"Our Deputy Assistant Secretary Cohen is on travel right there.

"It's complicated at some times, as are many of our relationships with countries around the world. This certainly complicates matters. I hope and I think we all hope, as a strong NATO ally, as a NATO partner, that we will get through this. We're optimistic.

'We would certainly like to see the evidence. We certainly don't want to have the people we employ be detained in this fashion, and especially detained without evidence, so we will continue to just watch it very closely. local officials up there".

Claims that Turkey did not agree with US' 4 pre-conditions

In the meanwhile, a committee under the presidency of the US Department of State Deputy Assistant Secretary Jonathan Cohen visited the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkey today.

The committee and the authorities are expected to discuss the visa suspension issue among other topics on the agenda.

US committee provided the information that the US has four pre-conditions to lift the visa suspension and Turkey has not agreed with these conditions.

According to a report by Habertürk, the four pre-conditions of the US are as follows:

* Evidence should be provided regarding the arrests of Metin Topuz ve Mete C.

* It should be asked whether the contact was taken on request of the US

* The employee shall not be arrested in case the contact was taken on request of the US

* US should be informed during the investigation of its employees.

(EKN/DG)