Turkey wants US to reverse decision to halt visa services

Turkish officials are asking the United States to reverse its decision to suspend non-immigrant visa services for Turkish citizens, saying people from both countries are suffering from the move.

The US announced it was suspending visa services yesterday following the arrest of a consulate employee last week that deepened tensions between the two NATO allies. The measure prompted Turkey to halt visa services in the US in a tit-for-tat response.

A Turkish Foreign Ministry official says that the US embassy’s second-in-charge, Philip Kosnett, was called to the ministry, where officials conveyed “their expectations” for the United States to halt “the unnecessary escalation” of tensions and to reverse the decision that “victimizes” both Turkish and US citizens.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity in line with government rules.

— AP