Erdogan: Turkey 🇹🇷 does not recognize US 🇺🇸 ambassador

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Tuesday that his country does not recognize the authority of the current US ambassador, John Bass, after the United States decided to suspend visa services within Turkey on Sunday.

"And right now, be it our cabinet ministers, parliament head -- and I personally am not accepting his farewell visit, and will not do so, because we do not see him as a representative of the United States in Turkey -- let me say that clearly."

Speaking at a news conference in Belgrade, Erdogan went on to speculate whether Bass made the decision to suspend visa services without the prior approval of the State Department or White House, an unlikely possibility for which he offered no evidence.

The decision to temporarily stop issuing non-immigrant visas at the US embassy and consulates in Turkey came over the weekend, was spurred by the arrest of a Turkish employee working at a division of the embassy tasked with fostering law enforcement cooperation between the two countries.

Earlier Monday, the Turkish government summoned Bass' deputy to the foreign ministry to relay their displeasure with the visa suspension, which appears to be taking a toll on Turkey's currency.

UCJ, UNILORIN.