US reiterates 'firm commitment' to security of diplomats after Armenian groups harass Turkish officials

By Iclal Turan

WASHINGTON (AA) - The US State Department on Saturday said it will continue to take all "appropriate steps" to protect the safety and security of diplomats after Armenian protestors disrupted a Turkish conference in the American state of California, which was attended by the Turkish ambassador and diplomats.

In response to Anadolu's questions in an email, a State Department spokesperson said the agency was aware of the incident in Los Angeles that involved Ambassador Hasan Murat Mercan that occurred Sept. 29 at an event hosted by the University of Southern California (USC).

"We are working with LAPD (Los Angeles Police Department) to look into this matter," the spokesperson said, but added that they have no further information to provide.

"We reiterate our firm commitment to the security and safety of diplomats and will continue to take all appropriate steps to protect the safety and security of those that conduct diplomacy," the spokesperson added.

Turkish Foreign Ministry on Saturday said Turkish officials were "verbally and physically" harassed by "radical Armenian groups" at a conference at the University of Southern California on Friday.

"We will initiate the necessary legal process against those who physically assaulted our delegation,” it said.

On Friday, a group of Armenian students began protesting when Mercan started speaking at a Türkiye conference before police intervened.

Protestors outside the building "physically and verbally attacked" Turkish officials, including Seref Ates, head of the Yunus Emre Institute -- which promotes Turkish culture and language abroad -- as well as Türkiye’s Los Angeles Religious Services Attache Ismail Demirezen, and Saner Ayar, an executive at television production company, O3 Media, according to witnesses.

The event was also attended by Wilson Center Middle East Program head and former US Ambassador to Türkiye James Jeffrey, Yunus Emre Institute US Director Gokhan Coskun and several others who spoke at the conference.