Davutoglu Warns of 'Negative Repercussions' on Bilateral Ties after Pilots Abduction
Ankara on Tuesday warned that the abduction of the two Turkish pilots might have “negative repercussions” on the bilateral relations between the two countries.
Caretaker Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour received a phone call from Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, during which they discussed the latest developments concerning the issue of the two pilots, Lebanon's National News Agency reported.
Davutoglu expressed to Mansour “grave concern over the kidnap operation and the possible negative repercussions it might have on the bilateral ties between the two countries,” NNA said.
The Turkish minister urged “the highest Lebanese authorities to seek the release of the two Turkish pilots,” noting that “Turkey has nothing to do with the abduction of the Lebanese citizens in Aazaz, which was perpetrated by Syrian groups on Syrian territory.”
For his part, Mansour stressed “Lebanon's rejection of any kidnap operation that takes place on its territory,” underlining Lebanon's “keenness on the firm ties between the two countries.”
The minister told Davutoglu that the Lebanese authorities and officials, “since the first day of the abduction, have been exerting utmost efforts to secure the release of the two Turkish pilots.”
Mansour hoped positive results will be reached as soon as possible, urging Turkey to “exert efforts to find a final solution to the case of the Aazaz abductees, which has been running for over a year.”
Turkey has closed its cultural center and commercial office in Beirut after the kidnap of the pilots, according to Ankara's ambassador to Lebanon.
The two pilots were kidnapped on Friday by a group demanding Turkey use its influence with Syria's rebels, who it backs, to secure the release of nine Lebanese Shiite pilgrims kidnapped in Syria in May 2012.
"As a safety measure, the Turkish cultural center and commercial office in Beirut have suspended their activities," ambassador Inan Ozyildiz said on Monday.
After the kidnapping on Friday, Turkey's foreign ministry urged citizens to avoid travel to Lebanon and to leave the country if they were already there.
The families of the nine Lebanese pilgrims, who were returning from a pilgrimage trip to Iran when they were kidnapped in Syria last year, have called repeatedly for the release of their relatives.
They accuse Turkey of not doing enough to win the release of their relatives.
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