State Department welcomes the efforts by President Gul and others to calm the situation
In regards to the ongoing protests in Turkey, Spokesperson Jen Psaki said the State Department “[welcomes] the efforts by President Gul and others to calm the situation. We’re hopeful that that will have an impact on the country and think that’s a positive step.” Psaki said in regards to the scheduled phone conversation between U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu that they would discuss a range of issues including Syria, but “the Secretary will also express his concerns about police…
Secretary Kerry: “The United States supports full freedom of expression and assembly”
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry gave a statement on the protests in Turkey during a press conference with his Polish counterpart, Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski after their meeting in Washington on June 3. Kerry expressed the U.S. support for freedom of expression, assembly, and a right to protest as well as U.S. concern over the excessive use of police violence, urging all involved to avoid any provocations of violence. Read the full excerpt below: