Turkish PM accuses ambassadors of 'provocation'. -"No one should jeopardize US-Turkey relations with baseless allegations." | Ricciardone

Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan has accused an unspecified group of ambassadors to Turkey of "provocation" and "ruses", calling on them to "do your job."
Some Turkish dailies published claims on Sunday regarding an ambassador-level meeting on the Istanbul-based anti-graft operation.
"We don't have to keep you here," Erdogan said, referring to foreign mission leaders based in Turkey. 
"If our ambassadors in foreign countries are trying to plan such ruses, don't bother sending them; we'll recall them right away."
Erdogan restated his definition of the anti-corruption campaign as an operation with international links undertaken by powers disturbed by Turkey's rise.

"How can you almost quadruple the national income in a country where corruption is prevalent?" he asked, referring to his Justice and Development Party's decade-long track record in boosting economy.

The Istanbul-based operation that was launched on Tuesday has led to the arrest of two dozens of high-profile bureaucrats, politicians and businessmen, including the sons of two key cabinet ministers and the head of state-owned lender Halkbank.

- US 'not involved'

• The United States Ambassador in Ankara, Francis Ricciardone, said Sunday his country has nothing to do with the anti-graft operation.

The ambassador's announcement via the US Embassy's official Twitter account comes as a response to claims in Turkish media that the US has a hand in the operation, which Erdogan had described as a "dirty campaign" to smear his government.
Ricciardone dismissed as "lies" the allegations published in a number of Turkish dailies that he met EU ambassadors in the Turkish capital and told them, "We wanted them to terminate (state-run lender) Halkbank's transactions with Iran. They didn't listen to us. Now you're watching the fall of an empire."
"No one should jeopardize US-Turkey relations with baseless allegations," Ricciardone said.
 http://www.aa.com.tr/en/headline/265473--turkish-pm-accuses-ambassadors-of-provocation
21/12/13
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• Corruption Probe Seen as Challenge to Turkish PM's Authority 

• Another 14 police chiefs removed in Ankara amid graft probe ...

• Director of Istanbul police Huseyin Capkin was transferred to capital Ankara on Thursday amid an Istanbul-based anti-graft operation which has been dominating Turkey's political landscape. The probe resulted in the detention of high-profile bureaucrats, businessmen and politicians..... 

• The European Commission urged the Turkish government to ensure ethical principles are maintained in judicial proceedings in the largest bribery probe that any government in the country’s history has ever faced.

• Και ο... πολύς Μπαγίς στους εμπλεκόμενους υπουργούς. -ΣΕΙΣΜΟΣ ΣΤΗΝ ΤΟΥΡΚΙΑ ΑΠΟ ΤΙΣ ΔΕΚΑΔΕΣ ΣΥΛΛΗΨΕΙΣ

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• Ricciardone refutes claims US 'behind Turkey graft probe' ...

United States Ambassador to Turkey, Francis J. Ricciardone, has refuted Turkish media reports that the U.S. was "behind" the ongoing graft probe following the Turkish prime minister’s insinuating comments about those “engaging in provocative actions.”

"The United States is in no way involved in the ongoing corruption and bribery operation," Ricciardone said in a written statement released on Dec. 21.

"Nobody should put Turkey-U.S. relations in danger with unfounded claims," he stressed.

Riccardone’s statement came a few hours after Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan accused some ambassadors of interfering in the Turkish government’s business while speaking during a rally in the Black Sea province of Samsun.

Even though the prime minister avoided giving any names, his timing that coincided with several pro-government dailies’ publishing reports that targeted the U.S. ambassador over the corruption probe, led his remarks to be interpreted as referring to him as well.

“In the recent days, interestingly some ambassadors have been engaging in provocative actions. I am calling out to them from Samsun: Mind your own business,” he said.

Warning “these ambassadors” he was referring to against stepping beyond the scope of their authority, the prime minister said the Turkish government was not obliged to keep ambassadors in.

“We do not have to keep you in our country. If our ambassadors to your countries are getting involved in any kinds of games, you should let us know as well, we would take our ambassadors back,” he stressed.

US ambassador’s statement sufficient: Foreign Ministry

Meanwhile, the Foreign Ministry released a statement in response to Riccardone’s, noting the ministry’s satisfaction with the U.S. ambassador’s explanation.

“We find the U.S. ambassador’s statement sufficient. There is no plan of calling him to the ministry on the issue,” the ministry statement read..............http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/ricciardone-refutes-claims-us-behind-turkey-graft-probe-.aspx?pageID=238&nID=59938&NewsCatID=315

21/12/13