Turkish officials have not been removed, says PM source

By Nuray Tuncay

ANKARA

Sources at Turkish Prime Ministry on Friday dismissed reports that the country’s intelligence chief and a senior foreign ministry official had been “removed” from their posts.

A source within the ministry speaking on condition of anonymity said there had been reports that National Intelligence Organization (MIT) Chief Hakan Fidan and Ministry of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Feridun Sinirlioglu had been reassigned.

"The reports saying the mentioned figures were removed from their posts do not reflect the truth," the source said.

According to earlier claims in some Turkish media, Sinirlioglu on Friday was appointed Turkey's permanent UN representative. Hakan Fidan was also alleged to have been assigned as Turkey's ambassador in Tokyo.

Sinirlioglu has been a long-standing diplomat and served as a ministerial undersecretary before being given the interim post as foreign minister in a caretaker government which ran Turkey until early elections were held on Nov. 1, 2015.

Sinirlioglu also served as Turkey's ambassador in Tel Aviv between 2002 and 2007.

In Feb. 2015, Fidan resigned as the head of MIT to run for election in Turkey’s June 7 parliamentary contest.

Fidan held his MIT post since May 2010, after serving as deputy undersecretary for then-prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

He has been an influential figure domestically and made headlines several times, mainly related to Turkey's former ‘solution process’ with the PKK and its Middle East policy.

*Anadolu Agency correspondent Servet Gunerigok contributed to this report.