EU envoy to Turkey resigns amid tensions over migration deal

The EU’s top diplomat in Turkey has resigned after a row with the government in Ankara over his criticism of its conduct in a landmark migrant deal. Hansjoerg Haber came under fire for comments made last month in which he castigated the government’s implementation of the deal. In comments made to the media on 13 […]

The EU’s top diplomat in Turkey has resigned after a row with the government in Ankara over his criticism of its conduct in a landmark migrant deal.
Hansjoerg Haber came under fire for comments made last month in which he castigated the government’s implementation of the deal.
In comments made to the media on 13 May, Mr Haber, who is from Germany, said: “We have a saying ‘Start like a Turk and end like a German. But here it is the other way round’.”
His words were seen as deeply derogatory in Turkey, where ambassadors are not expected to disrespect Turkish culture.