Azernews.Az

By Amina Nazarli

The U.S. Vice President, Joe Biden, arrived in Ankara on August 24 for a two-day official visit amid heavy agenda on security issues and cooperation against terror.

As part of the visit, the sides will no doubt have plenty to discuss in a bid to improve strained ties between Turkey and the U.S. after the recent developments have made the relationship between the two countries stormier.

One of the top topic on the agenda will likely be the extradition of Fethullah Gulen, the US-based cleric the Turkish side accuses of planning an attempted military coup on July 15 evening.

On July 15 evening, Turkish authorities said a military coup attempt took place in the country. Meanwhile, a group of servicemen announced about transition of power to them.

However, the rebelling servicemen started to surrender on July 16 and Turkish authorities said the coup attempt failed.

Turkey’s President said the death toll as a result of the military coup attempt stood at 246 people, excluding the coup plotters, and over 2,000 people were wounded. Erdogan declared a three-month state of emergency in Turkey on July 20.

Erdogan has demanded that the U.S. immediately extradite the 75-year-old imam from his home in Pennsylvania to Turkey, by sending two requests to the U.S. for extradition of Fethullah Gulen.

An Istanbul court ordered on August 4 to arrest Fethullah Gulen.

The vice president will have his first meeting with the Speaker of the Turkish parliament Ismail Kahraman and then he will meet with the country’s Prime Minister Binali Yildirim. Biden also might meet Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during his visit.

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Amina Nazarli is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli

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