Foreign Ministry sends diplomatic note to US envoy over violence outside Turkish mission

The Foreign Ministry on May 22 summoned Unites States Ambassador to Turkey John Bass over a brawl in front of the Turkish ambassador's residence in Washington during President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's visit to Washington on May 16. 

A verbal and written protest has been given to the ambassador, according to a written statement issued by the Foreign Ministry. 

The move comes over the detention by U.S. police of two security guards of Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu at the scene of the incident, despite the fact that the personnel have diplomatic immunity, the Hürriyet Daily News has learned.

"The Ambassador of the Unites States of America in Ankara was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today and a written and verbal protest was delivered due to the aggressive and unproffessional [sic] actions taken, contrary to diplomatic rules and practices, by US security personnel towards the close protection team of H.E Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey, in front of the Turkish Embassy Chancery in Washington DC during the visit of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan last week," read a written statement by the ministry on May 22.

The Foreign Ministry formally requested that the U.S. authorities conduct a "full investigation" into the incident and "provide the necessary explanation."

Turkey also accused the U.S. of not taking sufficient precautions for the official program of President Erdoğan. 
 
"During the meeting with the Ambassador, it was emphasized that the lapses of security experienced during our President's stay in Washington, which were caused by the inability of US authorities to take sufficient precautions at every stage of the official program, will not overshadow what in...