According to a report, most participants at the NATO summit in Ankara declined the engraved Sarsilmaz SR 38 revolvers presented by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The reported refusal follows earlier controversy over the gifts, which were reportedly accompanied by live ammunition.
A new report on Friday morning indicated that the majority of NATO leaders who attended the Ankara summit declined the engraved Sarsilmaz SR 38 revolvers presented by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The reported refusal adds a new layer to the controversy that first emerged on Thursday, when Erdogan's unusual gift was disclosed.
In a series of reports on July 9, The Zioneer detailed that Erdogan gave each visiting leader a personal revolver engraved with the recipient's name. The gift boxes also contained live ammunition and export permits, though the pistols were not loaded. The Zioneer later reported on Thursday evening (20:24 Jerusalem) that the revolvers were Sarsilmaz SR 38 models, providing further specification on the original disclosure.
The Zioneer also reported on July 7 on Erdogan's warm greeting of U.S. President Donald Trump at the summit, as F-35 deal talks began. The summit provided the setting for the controversial gift.
The current report does not specify which leaders declined the gift, nor the reasons for the refusal. It also remains unclear whether the pistols were returned or if the refusal was communicated privately.
6 developments
- StrongBelgian PM accidentally took loaded revolver gifted by Erdogan, delegation discovers upon landing
- DevelopingErdogan, Rutte walk hand-in-hand at NATO summit in Ankara
- DevelopingErdogan: Israeli-Greek opposition to F-35 sale 'has no place in my world'
- DevelopingAnalysis: Trump avoids discussing Iran sanctions with Erdogan at NATO summit, suggesting bluff
Source and signal
- Internal intake