Turkey expects visa spat with US to be resolved soon

WASHINGTON – A diplomatic crisis between the United States and Turkey that led them to stop issuing visas to each other's citizens is "overblown" and will likely be resolved soon, Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Simsek said on Wednesday.

In remarks apparently aimed at defusing tensions between the two countries, Simsek told an event in Washington that Turkey considered the safety and security of US diplomats and employees in Turkey a "top priority" and described the detention of staff at US missions in Turkey as "routine" investigations.

Tensions between the two NATO allies rose in recent days after the detentions of two locally employed staff prompted the United States on Sunday to suspend non-immigrant visa services at its embassy and consulates in Turkey. Hours later, Turkey issued a similar suspension on visas for US citizens.