Turkish FM: Closure of embassies only serves terrorist organizations

Turkish FM: Closure of embassies only serves terrorist organizations
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The Turkish Foreign Ministry has protested at the precautionary closure of several diplomatic missions over threats and terror warning, and called on nine ambassadors to "cooperate with security units."

The ambassadors of nine countries were summoned by the Turkish Foreign Ministry on Thursday to convey Ankara's concern over the closure of several diplomatic missions due to threats received following Koran-burning protests in some European capitals.

The ministry later said in a statement:

"The ambassadors and other diplomatic envoys of the US, The Netherlands, Switzerland, Sweden, the UK, Germany, Belgium, France and Italy, who have issued security alerts for our country and/or temporarily closed their diplomatic missions in our country in this context, were summoned to the ministry today. Our reaction in this issue was conveyed, and they were reminded that the security of all diplomatic missions in our country is conducted in accordance with international conventions. It was stressed that such simultaneous acts do not constitute a proportionate and reasonable response and that such responses only serve the insidious agenda of terrorist organizations. It was stated that our expectation from our friendly allies is their cooperation with our security units."

Turkish interior minister Suleyman Soylu said earlier in the day that the closure of Western countries' diplomatic missions is part of a "psychological warfare" against Turkey.