Turkey's leader is under fire for snubbing one of Europe's highest-ranking female diplomats.
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen was forced to sit on a couch after only two chairs were laid out for her male counterparts during discussions in the country's capital Ankara.
She was led to a room, along with European Council chief Charles Michel, for talks with Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
But TV images show that only two chairs were laid out in front of the EU and the Turkish flags for the three leaders.
Mr Michel and Mr Erdogan took the chairs as Ms von der Leyen stood looking at both men, expressing her astonishment with an "ehm" and a gesture of disappointment.
She eventually sat on a large beige sofa, away from her male counterparts for the two-and-a-half-hour meeting.
"The important thing is that the president should have been seated exactly in the same manner as the president of the European council and the Turkish president," EU commission chief spokesman Eric Mamer said of the faux pas.
Mr Mamer said Ms Von der Leyen was surprised by the arrangements.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-04-08/ursula-von-der-leyen-left-standing-turkey-meeting-recep-erdogan/100054868
