Turkish ambassador to Moldova assures of no danger for tourists in Turkey

Chisinau, July 19 /MOLDPRES/ – Ambassador of Turkey to Moldova Mehmet Selim Kartal today told a a press conference that there was no danger for tourists in leisure areas of Turkey. 
The official said security measures had been strengthened in Turkey, but state of emergency was not declared. "All the tourist resorts, including hotels, are controlled by video cameras. In particular, the Antalya Airport, which is under special monitoring," said Mehmet Selim Kartal. 
The diplomat said that, after the attempted coup, none of the tourists being now in Turkey, including Moldovans, had suffered. "There should be no concerns about the situation of people left, security measures have been enhanced. The decision to go on holiday to Turkey belongs to every citizen; yet, we must understand that these actions regard the authorities of the country and not the tourists there. Leisure areas, such as Antalya, Bodrum, Izmir, have not been hit," he added. 
"At the same time, special units were created in Turkey to provide information and assistance to persons in vacation. Similarly, Moldovan citizens can contact the honorary consulates of Moldova in Antalya, Marmaris and Izmir," said Mehmet Selim Kartal. 
According to the Association of Employers of travel agencies, over two thousand Moldovan tourists are currently in Turkey, with their number exceeding 130 thousand annually. 
On the evening of July 15, a group of Turkish army undertook an attempted coup in several cities of the country, particularly in Ankara and Istanbul, and "those who were behind this coup, according to the Government and Parliament of Turkey, are Fethullah Gulen group, presently living in Pennsylvania," the official said. 
The attempted coup failed, and according to data provided by the Turkish Ambassador in Chisinau, "turmoil resulted in 210 dead, 1,491 injured, 6,138 arrests of the military personnel, 755 arrests of prosecutors and judges, and 650 of the civilians arrested. At the same time, 1,500 civil servants have suspect status." 
(Reporter A. Plitoc, editor M. Jantovan)