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Turkey Shuns Belarus

ANKARA () -- Turkey, angered at Belarus for deporting two Turkish diplomats on spying charges, said Wednesday it was scrapping a $100 million loan to Minsk and withdrew from talks on bilateral accords.


Foreign Ministry spokesman Ferhat Ataman said Turkey was freezing work on all envisaged accords, including a friendship and cooperation agreement.


"In view of the unjust and unfortunate decision of Belarus that damages bilateral ties, Turkey ... stops all procedures on a $100 million Ex-Im Bank credit requested by Belarus and cancels a joint economic commission mechanism," Ataman said.

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