US sanctions bill disrespects Turkey's sovereignty - Foreign Ministry

The ministry criticized the Senate's approval of a foreign relations committee-backed legislation that proposes to impose sanctions on Turkey for its anti-terror operation in northern Syria and the purchase of Russian-made S-400 missile defense system.

"The main cause of this is the deep disappointment because we dealt a heavy blow to the long and carefully-planned project (in northern Syria)," the ministry said.

The ministry was referring to the efforts of the PKK's Syrian offshoot the People's Protection Units (YPG) to establish a terrorist corridor on its southern border that could threaten Turkey's border security and peace.

Calling the legislation as "disrespectful," the ministry said it will have no function and will only damage Turkey-US ties.

"We call on the U.S. Congress to adopt a constructive stance in line with the joint goals we set with top officials to enhance Turkey-U.S. ties and act with commonsense," the ministry added.

The Republican-led Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted 18-4 on the sanctions bill against Turkey's S-400 purchase and Operation Peace Spring.

Another bill proposing to impose sanctions on Turkey was approved in the House of Representatives on Oct. 29.

The legislation will have to be approved by the House of Representatives and be signed by Trump to become law.

Ankara and Washington have been at loggerheads over NATO ally Turkey's purchase of the Russian S-400 system, which Washington says is not compatible with NATO defenses and poses a threat to its F-35 stealth fighter jets, which Lockheed Martin Corp is developing.

The report is based on Daily Sabah paper