WASHINGTON — FBI Director Robert S. Mueller III may not be getting the warm and fuzzy treatment from Turkey.
The BBC reports that a Turkish newspaper website, Radikal, said Turkey had rejected Mueller’s request that the nation share biometric data on everyone who uses its ports and airports.
The website said Mueller, who visited Turkey last Wednesday, had asked for the info to track terrorists traveling through Turkey. It said Turkey immediately rejected the request.
The U.S. Embassy in Ankara issued a press release saying Mueller met in Turkey with Deputy Prime Minister Cemil Cicek, Justice Minister Sadullah Ergin and Chief of Police Oguz Kagan Koksal to discuss counterterrorism and law enforcement matters.
Here is the press release.
Press Releases
FBI Director in Ankara
Ankara, November 18, 2009
Robert S. Mueller, III, Director of the FBI, visited Ankara on November 18 for consultations with his counterparts in the government of Turkey.
The director was here to discuss our ongoing and important cooperation on counter-terrorism and law enforcement matters. Turkey is one of our key partners in the global struggle against terrorism, and we strongly support Turkey’s efforts against the PKK terrorist organization.
The FBI and the Turkish National Police have a long history of working together in the fight against terrorism and transnational organized crime. We are looking forward to an exchange of views on opportunities for even closer and more effective cooperation in our common struggle against terror and law-breakers.
While in Ankara, Director Mueller met with State Minister and Deputy Premier Cemil Çiçek, Minister of Justice Sadullah Ergin and the Director General of the Turkish National Police Oguz Kagan Koksal.
