Turkish Foreign Minister Holds Phone Talks With Pompeo After Brunson's Release - Source

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu held on Friday phone talks with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo after US pastor Andrew Brunson was released from house arrest, a source in the Turkish Foreign Ministry told Sputnik.

ANKARA (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 12th October, 2018) Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu held on Friday phone talks with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo after US pastor Andrew Brunson was released from house arrest, a source in the Turkish Foreign Ministry told Sputnik.

Earlier in the day, a court in Izmir sentenced Brunson to three years, one month and 15 days in prison but released him from house arrest, counting the time already served, which means he will not have to serve more time in custody. According to Brunson's attorney, the pastor has already left Turkey.

"Our minister has held phone talks with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo today," the source said, refusing to comment on the details.

On Thursday, media reported that the United States and Turkey struck a secret deal to have the pastor released in exchange of Washington easing economic pressure on Turkey.

The pastor was detained in 2016 over his alleged ties to the movement of Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen, which Turkey holds responsible for orchestrating the failed military coup of 2016. The pastor was released from prison in late July, only to be moved to house arrest.

Brunson's arrest significantly dampened US-Turkish relations. Following the pastor's detention, the United States imposed sanctions against Turkish Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gul and Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu and doubled previously levied import tariffs on Turkish aluminum and steel to 20 percent and 50 percent, respectively.