“We have a hard time understanding the reason they will be disturbed by a ‘yes’ ” vote on the referendum, Mr. Yildirim said. But Mr. Yildirim later appeared to backtrack, telling journalists that the government’s National Security Council, of which he is a member, will have to take up the matter. Advertisement Continue reading the main storyMr. Kalin said Turkey’s European and American allies had unfairly criticized Turkey’s crackdown that came after last year’s coup attempt. “I can clearly say that whatever Osama bin Laden means for American citizens, Fethullah Gulen means for the Turkish people,” Mr. Bozdag said. Advertisement Continue reading the main storyThe Trump administration “needs to win the hearts and minds of Turkish public opinion,” Mr. Yildirim said.

Source: New York Times March 09, 2017 14:27 UTC