Visa progress with Turkey a 'positive step': US

By Fatih Hafiz Mehmet

ANKARA (AA) - U.S. State Department spokesperson said on Tuesday that they had positive conversations with Turkey regarding the visa issue and that is a "step in the right direction".

Speaking in a press briefing in Washington, Heather Nauert said: "We’re only able to do this on a limited basis right now, but we are prioritizing medical, humanitarian, and also student visas in those cases. We’ve had a series of what I would describe as fairly positive conversations with the Government of Turkey. This is certainly a step in the right direction. It’s a positive step."

The two countries on Monday partially restored visa services after a nearly month-long row over the arrest of Turkish staffers of a U.S. mission for alleged Fetullah Terrorist Organisation (FETO) ties.

Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim also arrived in the U.S. on Tuesday to start his trip amid signs of improving Turkish-U.S. relations.

FETO and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup of July 15, 2016 in Turkey, which left 250 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.