US Disappointed With Turkish Court Refusal To Release Pastor Brunson - State Dept.

WASHINGTON (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 16th August, 2018) The United States is upset with the decision by the Turkish court to refuse to release US pastor Andrew Brunson from house arrest, State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert told reporters on Wednesday.

According to the CNN Turk broadcaster, the court has rejected an appeal filed by the pastor's lawyer, who is seeking his release and return to the United States.

"Of course, we are very aware of the decision on the part of the court in Turkey. We are certainly disappointed by that announcement. We would like Pastor Brunson to be brought home to the United States," Nauert said.

With regards to the current state of US-Turkish relations Nauert said that there is work left to be done.

"The diplomacy continues," the spokesperson said. "I anticipate that we will talking with the Turkish government at some point in the future about the case of Pastor Brunson and the case of other Americans."

She also said at the moment there are no meetings or calls scheduled between the two countries.

Earlier on Wednesday, Turkish Trade Minister Ruhsar Pekcan announced the doubling of tariffs on $533 million worth of US goods, including cars, alcohol, fruit, coal and makeup. The Turkish government said the move came in response to US President Donald Trump's decision on Friday to double tariffs on Turkish steel and aluminum imports.

The tensions between the two countries initially heightened earlier in August, when the Trump administration froze the assets of two Turkish ministers after Ankara refused to release US pastor Andrew Brunson, arrested by Turkey on suspicion of ties to the Gulen movement back in 2016. Brunson was released from jail in late July but placed under house arrest. The movement of US-based Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen is designated as a terrorist organization by Ankara and accused of having orchestrated the July 2016 failed military coup in the country.