Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said that from now on his “doors are closed” to the US Ambassador to Ankara, Jeffry Flake. The Turkish leader spoke of the “need to teach America a lesson” in diplomacy.
While the US President Joe Biden’s ambassador was meeting with main opponent of the incumbent president, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, Erdogan was quoted as: “Shame on you, think with your head. You are an ambassador, your interlocutor here is the president,” said the Turkish leader.
He asked with what face the American ambassador would then request a meeting with the Turkish president. Now that the doors are closed for the American diplomat, he “should know his place”, Erdogan added.
“Let him know how an ambassador should work, and if he doesn’t know, he can’t come in through that door,” he said. RIA News Turkish president.
Presidential and legislative elections in Turkey are scheduled for May 14. The main opponent of the incumbent president is Kemal Kilicdaroglu, a candidate of the opposition People’s Alliance.
Recall, earlier Erdogan said that he would not allow his country to be drawn into a conflict with Russia. He noted that avoiding a confrontation with Russia would become one of his campaign slogans. The Turkish President also announced that he was ready to participate in the peaceful settlement of the Ukrainian crisis.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said that from now on his “doors are closed” to the US Ambassador to Ankara, Jeffry Flake, blasting the diplomat’s recent meeting with his rival at the upcoming presidential elections.
Erdogan attended a ceremony in the Bagcilar district of Istanbul on Sunday, dedicated to the official opening of nearly 100 houses and other facilities constructed in the wake of a series of devastating earthquakes. In a follow-up meeting with a group of officials from the Grey Wolves far-right movement, he heavily focused on the May 14 elections and Washington envoy’s alleged abuse of his diplomatic authority.
“We need to teach America a lesson in these elections,” Erdogan said, as cited by Anadolu.
Ambassador Flake met with the leader of Republican People’s Party (CHP), Kemal Kilicdaroglu, on March 29, “as part of continuing conversations with Turkish political parties on issues of mutual interest between our two countries,” according to a tweet from the US Embassy.
“Our doors are closed for him, he can no longer come in. Why? He needs to know his place,” Erdogan said. “Shame on you, think with your head. You are an ambassador. Your interlocutor here is the president.”
Erdogan’s remarks come less than six weeks before presidential and general elections take place in Türkiye on May 14, with Kilicdaroglu put forward by the alliance of six opposition parties as his main opponent after months of political infighting. The Turkish president and his ruling AK Party are expected to face a tough challenge following a devastating earthquake that killed more than 50,000 people in the country in early February.
FILE PHOTO: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan meets Jeff Flake, the new US ambassador in Ankara, January 26, 2022 © Turkish Presidency via AP