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Turkey’s envoy says his remarks not meant to attack Austria

10 November 2010 22:09 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. Turkey’s ambassador Kadri Ecved Tezcan on Wednesday defended his remarks on the treatment of Turkish immigrants in Austria, saying he did not mean to attack the Austrian government, APA reports quoting Xinhua.
Speaking to Austrian newspaper Die Presse recently, Tezcan said Turks in Vienna knew they were not welcome in Austria and did not wish to be treated "like a virus."
He also criticized Austria’s integration policy, saying Austrian people should learn to live together with people from other countries. He further commented he would have moved UN offices and headquarters of other international organizations from Vienna if he were the leader of these organizations.
Some Austrian media commented that his remarks risked a serious rift between Austria and Turkey.
Facing angers roused in Austrian, Tezcan said his remarks was meant to call attention to unjust practices and problems in immigration issues, and spur relevant discussions in the public.
Austrian Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger had called his Turkish counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu, protesting over the matter. Davutoglu said while answering the call that Turkey has not changed its policy toward Austria, according to Austrian media reports.