Security Erdogan tried to expel journalists from his lectures in Washington – RBC

The guards of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is on a visit to the USA, came into conflict with journalists who had come to his lecture at the University of Washington. This writes the Financial Times citing witnesses.

Erdogan gave a speech at the Brookings Institution. However, Turkish security officials, according to witnesses, swore and did not allow journalists to go who wanted to get on the show. Witnesses confirmed that they tried before the lecture to withdraw from the hall at least one reporter. We intervened members of the Institute, which will allow journalists to attend the speech. Representative offices Gail Chalef said that, despite the controversy with the guards at the event, according to the institute estimated could visit all accredited journalists.

In turn, the deputy adviser to the US President for National Security Ben Rhodes noted that not He knows the exact incident circumstances, but said that the US authorities “respect and support the right of independent journalism”, both in the US and in Turkey.

at the same time the entrance to the building of the Institute gathered supporters and Erdogan’s opponents. Police had to intervene to prevent conflict of his critics with Turkish President security.

In his speech Erdogan criticized the support of the Syrian Kurds America. He also commented on his conflict with some Turkish media, noting that his government accepts the criticism, however, will fight “insults and slander».

Erdogan was to hold talks in Washington with President Barack Obama. The Wall Street Journal reported that the US president has no plans to hold an official meeting with him in one-on-one, Erdogan himself denied this information. The White House later said Obama may hold with the Turkish leader is only an informal meeting. The US administration, however, stressed that the lack of formal negotiations is not necessary to interpret as an insult Erdogan

Washington and Ankara in recent times went to the Kurdish issue:. US considers its allies Kurdish militias in Syria, while Turkey calls their part of the Kurdistan Workers’ party, which both Washington and Ankara recognizes as a terrorist organization.

The United States also criticized the actions of the Turkish government towards the opposition newspaper Zaman, which it took control. “We believe this is one action in a series of disturbing judicial and law enforcement actions that Turkey has taken with respect to the media critical of the government,” – said State Department spokesman John Kirby.