Ozyildiz Says Turkish Centers in Beirut Shut as a Safety Measures
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Turkey's closure of its cultural center and commercial office in Beirut was taken ahead of the kidnapping of the two pilots, Ankara's ambassador to Lebanon said on Monday.
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 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 told Agence France Presse.
He also said "Turkish Airlines' offices have been operating from Beirut's Rafik Hariri International Airport" instead of at their downtown Beirut facility.
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.
But Ozyildiz welcomed "measures taken by the Lebanese security services to protect Turkish interests" in Beirut.
He reiterated that his country "was not involved in the pilgrims' kidnapping" in Aazaz, northern Syria.
A previously unknown group calling itself Zuwwar Imam al-Rida claimed the kidnapping of the two pilots.
It said Turkey was "directly responsible" for the nine Lebanese who went missing in Syria.
Eleven pilgrims were kidnapped in Syria's Aleppo region in May 2012 as they were making their way back to Lebanon by land from pilgrimage in Iran.
Two of them have since been released, while the rest remain in Aazaz.
Their families accuse Turkey of not doing enough to win the release of their relatives.
They have repeatedly vowed to take action against Turkish interests in Lebanon in order to pressure Ankara to release the captives.
The two pilots were kidnapped on the airport road.
Since Friday, Hizbullah's critics have repeatedly accused it of covering up for the kidnapping of the two pilots.
Meanwhile, Turkish Airlines denied that its offices in downtown Beirut were closed.
The airlines pointed out that several employees are working at the airport due to the difficulties that prevent them from reaching the offices at al-Azariyeh building.
12 August 2013, 16:01
02
Lebanon is plagued with a disease called Hezbollah. What could be next:
1- Designating Hariri International Airport as unsafe by IATA
2- Turkey requiring visas to Lebanese
3- Government continues its erosion.
I am not saying Hezbollah kidnapped the pilots, but the no-order state they have created is the reason why some jerks can take the whole country hostage.
12 August 2013, 20:45
11
ALL Palestinian refugees must be removed from Lebanon & resettled in the West Bank ! ALL Syrian Refugees must be removed from Lebanon & resettled in the Golan Heights !
It is the RIGHT on behalf of both refugees & an OBLIGATION that Israel MUST give back the occupied lands to their rightful owners !
Only then we Lebanese can then sit down with you Israelis for a Peace Treaty , oh also don't forget to return our Shebaa Farms & stop stealing our natural resources such as our water , gas & oil !
Signed Wolf !
12 August 2013, 22:25
00
ALL Palestinian refugees resettled in West Bank? All Syrian refugees resettled in Golan heights? Who died and named you Chief Immigration Officer?
The Syrians came from all OVER Syria when things are well they should go back to their HOMES wherever they may be in Syria same for the Palestinian.
13 August 2013, 00:15
00
what about the lebanese people, we are so hospitable, that we defend everyone s rights except our own.how about for once we start thinking lebanon first and then worry about our visitors .even civilized countries are rejecting refugees , example : australia . it s about social and economical impact , we are not a rich country to begin with . why dont the arab states take them in , they have alot of land and money to do it. but instead they send money for war .one more thing, i never saw any syrian help us or condemn what was happening in lebanon when the syrian army was killing , raping and stealing from lebanon. but us lebanese tend to forget things like that as long as some leader says so. again, new politicians, i mean all of them , all of them work for their interests and when they are done milking the system , they pass the torch to a relative.
peace
