Ozyildiz Says Turkish Centers in Beirut Shut as a Safety Measures
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.
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