Turkish Foreign Ministry: UAE's criticism 'unacceptable'

Turkey has denounced the United Arab Emirates government’s criticism of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as “unacceptable.”

In a statement released on Saturday, the Turkish Foreign Ministry responded to an attack on Erdogan’s speech at the UN General Assembly, in which the U.A.E. criticized his comments on Egypt as an "irresponsible and a flagrant intervention."

"Remarks aimed at our president by the U.A.E. foreign ministry are absolutely unacceptable," the Turkish ministry said.

In a hard-hitting speech in New York on Thursday, Erdogan criticized the UN’s inaction over the "coup" in Egypt.

The Turkish government has heavily criticized the Egyptian regime of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who deposed President Mohamed Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood, close allies of Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party, last year.

Following Erdogan’s speech, the U.A.E. accused him of having "exploited the UN as a platform to launch an unacceptable attack on Egyptian legitimacy.”

The Turkish Foreign Ministry statement said Ankara respected democratic principles and international law and opposed coups against elected governments.

"There might be countries disturbed by our principled stance,” the statement added. “However, this does not give them the right to question our president's speech and to make inappropriate accusations against him." 

Last November, Egypt downgraded diplomatic relations with Turkey and recalled its ambassador to Ankara. Turkey responded with similar measures.

The U.A.E. was among the first Arab countries to welcome Morsi's removal and has since pledged $6.9 billion in aid to support Egypt.

Anadolu Agency