BEIRUT: Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu warned his Lebanese counterpart of “negative repercussions” should two pilots kidnapped last week not be freed, Lebanon’s foreign ministry said yesterday.
Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour received a phone call from Davutoglu during which they discussed developments on the subject of the kidnapped pilots, the ministry said.
“Davutoglu told... Mansour he was deeply concerned about the kidnapping,” and said it “might have negative repercussions on bilateral relations between the two countries.”
The Turkish pilots were kidnapped on Friday by a group demanding Turkey use its influence with Syria’s rebels, who it backs, to secure the release of nine Lebanese kidnapped in Syria in May 2012.
Meanwhile, Mansour said “Lebanon rejects any kidnapping that takes place on its territory,” according to the ministry.
He also “emphasised the solid relations” between Turkey and Lebanon, and said the authorities “have been making every effort to ensure (the pilots) are set free”.
The statement comes a day after Ankara’s ambassador to Lebanon said Turkey has closed its cultural centre and commercial office in Beirut.
He also said “Turkish Airlines’ offices have been operating from Beirut International Airport” instead of at their downtown Beirut facility.AFP
