On the sidelines of the meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers on Friday, I again asked my Turkish counterpart Mevlüt Cavusoglu that we be given consular access to Deniz Yücel in accordance with the assurances given to the Chancellor by Prime Minister Binali Yilderim.

The Turkish Foreign Minister subsequently sees to have undertaken fresh intensive efforts in Ankara and informed me at the weekend that our request would be complied with. I would like to thank him for that.

This morning Turkey officially confirmed per Note Verbale that we will finally be granted access to Deniz Yucel tomorrow so that we can satisfy ourselves of his well-being after a difficult time in custody.