by Burak Akinci
ANKARA, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- Turkish and U.S. officials had "constructive and positive" talks in Ankara on Wednesday aimed at resolving a diplomatic row that resulted in mutual suspending visa and deteriorating further strained ties between the two NATO allies.
"The talks were held in a positive and constructive mood and this is good for the future of this issue," said on Thursday a Turkish diplomatic source to Xinhua on the condition of anonymity.
"We will have more talks on the subject in the coming days in order to focus on the end of the suspension of visas," added this source.
Turkish Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gul said that positive developments will soon take place regarding this spat.
"The meeting was very productive," Gul told Anadolu Agency on Thursday.
He noted that it would not yet be possible to give a date for the resolution of this crisis, but insisted that if the U.S. lifts its ban, Turkey would immediately reply by the same.
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu for his part called for dialogue to end the "unnecessary" spat.
Coincidentally, the American embassy in Ankara published on Monday evening new application conditions for visas, slightly softening the restriction regarding medical or humanitarian emergencies, a move seen as a "good will sign" from the American side.
Last year, some 313,000 Turks went to the U.S. while 460,000 Americans came to Turkey, mostly for tourism, according to official Turkish data.
Strained ties between the two NATO allies deepened last week after Turkish authorities detained a Turkish employee of the U.S. Consulate in Istanbul, Metin Topuz, who was arrested on charges of espionage and alleged ties to followers of Fethullah Gulen, allegedly behind the failed coup in July 2016. Previously, another local staff was arrested in an U.S. consular mission in southern Turkey.
The United States halted most visa services for Turkish citizens at U.S. missions following the detention of Metin Topuz, prompting a tit-for-tat response from Ankara.
Analysts think that the two allies would manage in the coming weeks to solve this particular spat but that other differences will still remain.
"This row should end soon. But other differences will remain. The question is, are the two countries ready to advance on those thorny issues?" remarked Deniz Zeyrek, a political commentator at the Hurriyet daily.
Ankara and Washington are at odds particularly since the failed coup which has provoked a sharp anti-U.S. sentiment amongst Turks, fueled by suspicions of some government circles in Ankara, blaming U.S. authorities of having supported the infamous plot.
Erdogan is very irritated by the refusal of U.S. officials to extradite Gulen who lives in Pennsylvania since 1999. Gulen and his followers are considered to be part of a "terrorist organization."
Ankara is also not satisfied with the supports given by Washington to a Syrian Kurdish faction, the People's Protection Units (YPG), the Syrian branch of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).
The PKK, which is classified as a terrorist group by Turkey, the U.S. and the European Union, has been fighting the Turkish state for decades.
As another way of expression to show its frustration at the U.S. and European powers, Turkey recently inked a deal with Russia to buy Russian S-400 defense missile systems despite being a NATO ally.
