Former Turkish Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis commented on the unfolding row between Turkey and the US over the detention of American evangelist pastor Andrew Brunson, during an interview in Ankara on Wednesday.
“I think it is more political than economic. Or economic measures are used in order to achieve a political goal,” said the former top diplomat.
According to Yakis, the United States’ request to release the pastor is also fuelled by the upcoming elections in the US Congress. “Because pastor Brunson is an evangelist Christian, and I understand that the people, the inner cabinet of president, or close associates of President Trump are all, almost all of them are evangelists,” he noted.