- Title: Turkey's economy minister defends predecessor over Iran sanctions charges
- Date: 7th September 2017
- Summary: ANKARA, TURKEY (SEPTEMBER 7, 2017) (REUTERS) TURKISH ECONOMY MINISTER NIHAT ZEYBEKCI ARRIVING FOR NEWS CONFERENCE AND SITTING DOWN REPORTERS AND OFFICIALS TAKING NOTES (SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) TURKISH ECONOMY MINISTER, NIHAT ZEYBEKCI, SAYING: "Mr Zafer (Caglayan) did not do anything against Turkey's interests, what is important for us, are the interests of Turkey. It is of no concern to us whether he acted against the interests of other countries or not."
- Embargoed: 21st September 2017 11:24
- Keywords: Turkey's economy minister Nihat Zeybekci Zafer Caglayan conspiring to evade U.S. sanctions against Iran Turkish state bank Halkbank
- Location: ANKARA AND ISTANBUL, TURKEY
- City: ANKARA AND ISTANBUL, TURKEY
- Country: Turkey
- Topics: Crime/Law/Justice,Judicial Process/Court Cases/Court Decisions
- Reuters ID: LVA0016XLLFT3
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Turkey's economy minister said on Thursday (September 7) his predecessor Zafer Caglayan charged in the United States with conspiring to evade U.S. sanctions against Iran had done nothing to harm his country.
Nihat Zeybekci told reporters Caglayan had not done anything against Turkey's interests and that it was of no concern to Turkey if he acted against the interests of other countries.
Zeybekci also said the case against Caglayan remained unverified.
U.S. prosecutors have charged Caglayan, a former Turkish economy minister, and Suleyman Aslan, the former head of Halkbank, a Turkish state bank, with conspiring to evade U.S. sanctions against Iran, widening an investigation that has fuelled tension between Washington and Ankara.
Caglayan's indictment is the first time a former member of the Turkish government with close ties to President Tayyip Erdogan has been charged in the case, which stems from an investigation into a Turkish-Iranian gold trader over sanctions evasion. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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