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A2 UP FRONT
Friday 19 May 2017
U.S., Turkey spar over Erdogan visit violence, Kurdish support

JOSH LEDERMAN investigation, the guards Turkey and is considered a
RICHARD LARDNER are already safely back terrorist group by the Unit-
Associated Press in Turkey with Erdogan, ed States.
WASHINGTON (AP) — dampening any prospects The violent capstone to Er-
The Trump administration for holding them account- dogan’s visit spoke to the
faced growing calls Thurs- able. sky-high tensions between
day for a forceful response Local police and lawmak- the U.S. and Turkey, NATO
to violence by Turkish presi- ers initially speculated allies that have increasing-
dential guards on Ameri- that diplomatic immunity ly sparred over U.S. strat-
can soil, who were briefly prevented the U.S. from egy toward defeating IS
detained this week but holding the men. A U.S. militants in Syria.
then set free. The unseemly official said Thursday that To Turkey’s dismay, Trump
incident added to U.S.- wasn’t the case. Instead, has decided to arm Syr-
Turkish tensions that are Erdogan’s guards were ian Kurdish militants in the
being compounded by a released under a globally impending fight to retake
growing spat over U.S. war recognized custom under the key city of Raqqa.
strategy against the Islamic which nations don’t arrest Washington considers the
State group in Syria. or detain visiting heads of Syrian Kurds an effective
The United States said it state and members of their President Donald Trump welcomes Turkish President Recep force against IS. Turkey
summoned Turkey’s am- delegations, said the offi- Tayyip Erdogan to the White House in Washington, Tuesday, sees them as a PKK exten-
bassador to the State De- cial, who wasn’t authorized May 16, 2017. sion and existential threat
partment, where the No. to comment publicly on Associated Press to Turkish sovereignty.
2-ranked U.S. diplomat the matter and requested vestigation that will allow all, nine people were hurt. In its protest against
raised concerns about the anonymity. us to hold the responsible “This isn’t Turkey. This isn’t a Trump’s decision, Turkey’s
security detail for President The guards’ release left the individuals accountable is third-world country,” Mc- foreign minister demand-
Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s U.S. struggling to point to of the upmost importance Cain said on MSNBC. ed Thursday that Trump
visit to Washington, after anything that amounts to to us.” Another video shared on dismiss the U.S. envoy in
they were captured on vid- accountability. It also fu- The fracas erupted as Erdo- social media Thursday charge of the anti-IS co-
eo violently breaking up a eled the perception that gan arrived at the ambas- showed Erdogan watching alition, Brett McGurk. And
protest. U.S. lawmakers de- the U.S. allows Turkey’s sador’s residence following the melee unfold from the Erdogan, speaking in Istan-
manded stronger action. leader to bring strongman a meeting with President backseat of his vehicle. He bul two days after meeting
The government should tactics with him when he Donald Trump. Videos later exits the vehicle and Trump, said he was putting
“throw their ambassador visits the U.S. capital. Last show people pushing past peers toward the chaos. Washington on notice that
the hell out” of the country, year, Turkish security offi- police to confront a small Turkey’s embassy blamed his forces won’t hesitate to
Republican Sen. John Mc- cials manhandled several group of protesters across the violence on demon- attack U.S.-backed Kurds if
Cain said. journalists at a Washington the street. strators, saying they ag- they threaten Turkey.
The calls came as the ad- think tank where Erdogan Attacking with their fists and gressively provoked Turkish- “We are already telling
ministration conceded it was set to speak. feet, men in dark suits and American citizens gath- you in advance: Our rules
had released two mem- “There must be conse- others are seen repeatedly ered to see Erdogan. The of engagement give us this
bers of Erdogan’s detail af- quences,” Rep. Steny Hoy- kicking one woman as she embassy alleged, without authority,” Erdogan said.
ter holding them briefly af- er, the No. 2 Democrat in lay curled on a sidewalk. evidence, that the dem- “We will take such a step
ter the incident, which took the House, said Thursday. Another person wrenches a onstrators were associated and we won’t discuss it or
place outside the Turkish The State Department woman’s neck and throws with the Kurdistan Workers’ consult with anyone.”
ambassador’s residence in called the latest incident her to the ground. A man Party, or PKK, which has The Trump administra-
the U.S. capital on Tuesday. “deeply disturbing,” insist- with a bullhorn is repeat- waged a three-decade- tion rushed to McGurk’s
While officials vowed an ing that a “thorough in- edly kicked in the face. In long insurgency against defense.q

Trump administration announces plans to renegotiate NAFTA

PAUL WISEMAN
AP Economics Writer what changes the admin- say whether leaving NAFTA
WASHINGTON (AP) — Mak- istration would seek in the remained an option. The
ing good on a campaign 23-year-old pact that Presi- trade agreement has been
promise, the Trump ad- dent Donald Trump has a lightning rod for criticism
ministration formally told called “a disaster.” Ligh- since it was being negotiat-
Congress Thursday that it thizer told reporters that ed in the early 1990s. During
intends to renegotiate the any new deal should do the 1992 presidential cam-
North American Free Trade a better job of protecting paign, independent can-
Agreement with Canada U.S. factory workers and didate Ross Perot famously
and Mexico. should be updated to re- predicted a “giant sucking
U.S. Trade Rep. Robert flect new technologies. sound” as NAFTA pulled
Lighthizer sent a letter to Last month, White House U.S. factory jobs south of
congressional leaders aides spread word that the border into Mexico.
Thursday, starting 90 days Trump was ready to pull out Campaigning last year,
of consultations with law- of NAFTA. Within hours, the Trump vowed to renegoti-
makers over how to re- president reversed course ate NAFTA and pull out of
vamp the pact. Talks with and said that he’d seek a it he couldn’t get a better
Canada and Mexico can In this Monday, May 15, 2017, photo, U.S. Trade Representa- better deal first. “We are deal. NAFTA took effect in
begin after that. tive Robert Lighthizer speaks in the Eisenhower Executive Office going to give renegotiation 1994 and triggered a big in-
The two-page letter of- Building on the White House complex in Washington during his a good strong shot,” Ligh- crease in trade among the
fered few details about swearing-in ceremony. thizer said. He refused to three countries. q
Associated Press