ANKARA: The street in Ankara where the American embassy is located will be renamed after Turkey’s operation against a Kurdish militia in Syria that has sparked concern in Washington, the mayor of the Turkish capital said on Monday.

The renaming of the street in the centre of Ankara as “Olive Branch Avenue” is the latest example of the testy relations between the two Nato allies who have bickered fiercely during the last months over a string of issues, including Syria.

“I have signed the proposal necessary to change the name of the street that the US embassy is on from Nevzat Tandogan Avenue to Olive Branch,” Mustafa Tuna said on Twitter.

He said the proposal will be presented to the Ankara municipality assembly on Monday evening for approval.

Nevzat Tandogan was a former governor of the Turkish capital between 1929 and 1946.

“Olive Branch” is the name given to Turkey’s operation launched on Jan 20 against the Syrian Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) in its western enclave of Afrin.

Although the US embassy is found on Nevzat Tandogan Avenue, the mission gives Ataturk Boulevard, named after Turkey’s post imperial founder and which part of the building backs onto, as its official address.

Published in Dawn, February 13th, 2018