Top Turkish officials tell us envoy not to cross boundaries of his diplomatic mission

Huseyin Celik, deputy chairman of Justice and Development Party (AKP), who responded on Wednesday by warning US Ambassador to Ankara Francis J. Ricciardone not to cross the boundaries of his diplomatic position and to refrain from interfering in Turkey's domestic politics, officially declared yesterday that a warning would be issued to the American envoy. "We are inviting Ricciardone to remain within his boundaries and limits. We are not pleased with his remarks. We condemn and denounce them. He should know his place," said Celik. The Turkish media also reported late on Thursday that the US envoy sent a letter to Celik to express his apologies and to eliminate misunderstandings that occurred regarding his remarks in the press. The strongest public reactions came from Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag, who advised Ricciardone to refrain from interfering in Turkey's domestic issues. "It would be better and useful for his country, if Ricciardone minded his own business. Those are the statements that do not accord with his assignment in Turkey," Bozdag said. Furthermore, Turkish Parliament Speaker Cemil Cicek said that Ricciardone's recent statements on several court cases in Turkey were "unacceptable." Spokesperson for the US State Department Victoria Nuland said that US Ambassador in Ankara only reiterated what former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had said on several Turkish court cases. Asked about Ambassador Ricciardone's recent statements in the Turkish media on several Turkish court cases during a press conference on Thursday in Washington, Victoria Nuland noted, "Ambassador Ricciardone only reiterated what former US Secretary of State Clinton had said on several Turkish court cases. I am sure that (new) US Secretary of State John Kerry would say the same things when he gets a chance to speak to the public opinion."