US Turkey embassy’s employees demanding pay raises face insult: paper
A row has emerged at the US embassy in Turkey between Deputy Chief
of Mission Douglas Silliman and five Turkish employees of the
embassy demanding pay raises, Turkish Aksham newspaper
reported.
Though the US State Department allocated a hefty budget in 2009 to increase the salaries of the Turks working for the US embassies and representations in Ankara, Istanbul and Adana, the salaries have not been raised.
A group of Turkish employees who had heard the news complained to Washington. As the White House sent an enquiry to Ankara, US Ambassador James Jeffrey instructed Silliman to scrutinize the matter and delegated him to Istanbul where the Turkish employees – four women and a man - are based. During a meeting with them, Silliman reportedly committed an action violating diplomatic ethics. When asked "will there be a pay raise?" Silliman rolled up his sleeve and showed a sign known internationally as an insult.
The reaction came immediately from one of the women, who said "if my husband were here, he would break your arm."
By the time the US diplomat realized his mistake, his interlocutors had long left the room. Silliman tried to call them back to apologize, but none of them returned.
Having heard about the incident, Ambassador Jeffrey promptly arrived in Istanbul and extended an apology to the Turkish staff.*
Though the US State Department allocated a hefty budget in 2009 to increase the salaries of the Turks working for the US embassies and representations in Ankara, Istanbul and Adana, the salaries have not been raised.
A group of Turkish employees who had heard the news complained to Washington. As the White House sent an enquiry to Ankara, US Ambassador James Jeffrey instructed Silliman to scrutinize the matter and delegated him to Istanbul where the Turkish employees – four women and a man - are based. During a meeting with them, Silliman reportedly committed an action violating diplomatic ethics. When asked "will there be a pay raise?" Silliman rolled up his sleeve and showed a sign known internationally as an insult.
The reaction came immediately from one of the women, who said "if my husband were here, he would break your arm."
By the time the US diplomat realized his mistake, his interlocutors had long left the room. Silliman tried to call them back to apologize, but none of them returned.
Having heard about the incident, Ambassador Jeffrey promptly arrived in Istanbul and extended an apology to the Turkish staff.*
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