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Scandal in Turkish diplomacy: Turkeyâ€™s envoy to US quits

09 December 2009 19:56 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. Turkey ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to the United States has announced that he presented his letter of resignation to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, demanding his recall from the US.

Although he declined to refer to any reason behind his resignation, Turkish reporters accompanying Prime Minister Recep Tayyip ErdoÄŸan during his state visit in Washington learned from unidentified sources said the ambassador quit for strained relationship with Foreign Minister Ahmet DavutoÄŸlu over the format of a meeting between the prime minister and US President Barack Obama.

According to the unconfirmed information, Turkish Ambassador to the US Nabi Shensoy had been ordered by the foreign ministry to arrange the meeting between Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Barack Obama in the 2+2 format, i.e. with the presence of Ahmet Davutoglu and Hillary Clinton.

Although that format had been tentatively agreed, the US administration refused to accept the format at the last minute.

Getting angry with the ambassador who was responsible to arrange the meeting, Ahmet Davutoglu told him â€œhe doesnâ€™t want to work with him any longerâ€

In response, the ambassador said we will quit his job after the prime minister visit and asked the ministry to recall him.

The ambassador declined to say why he is resigning despite reportersâ€™ insistence.