Azernews.Az

By Amina Nazarli

Turkey makes attempts to join the EU from time to time, however, the country has never needed it, on the contrary, the EU needs Turkey.

The statement was made by Turkish President’s Chief Adviser Yalcin Topcu, who is on a visit to Baku on November 21.

Europe needs the power of Turkey, its surface and underground resources, as well as human resources, according to Topcu.

The official said that Turkey is the only way for the EU to establish strong trade and political ties with the East, the Caucasus, the Arab world, Central Asia and the Balkans.

"But it is clear that Europe does not seek to strengthen ties with Turkey," the adviser emphasized.

Terrorist organizations such as the Kurdistan Workers' Party, the ISIS, the Gulen movement, according to Topcu, are managed by countries that supposedly have strategic ties with Turkey.

"Turkey judges it due to the armament of the terrorist groups. As many as 4,500 terrorists, who are on our wanted list, are in Germany," he said.

The adviser to the president believes that the relations between Turkey and the EU depend on the steps that will now be taken by the EU.

Commenting on attempted military coup in Turkey on July 15, the presidential adviser said that if the coup attempt was successful, it would have a negative impact on all the countries of the region.

He went on saying that the U.S. should follow the bilateral agreement and should extradite Gulen, who is directly connected with the attempt of a military coup.

"The U.S. so far has not fulfilled any obligations in this field. Both countries have extradition agreement on criminals. We never put question when the U.S. wants any criminal, because the opposite side says that you have someone whose we consider as a criminal. That's why the U.S. also should transfer FETO's leader to us. However, the U.S. has not done it so far," he said.

Topcu stressed that Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) is a danger for the countries who want peace and prosperity.

Turkey's government has repeatedly said the deadly plot, which martyred at least 246 people and injured more than 2,000 others, was organized by followers of U.S.-based preacher Fethullah Gulen.

The General Staff of Turkish Armed Forces has said that 8,651 servicemen of the armed forces participated in the military coup attempt in the country. The rebels used 35 planes, 37 helicopters, 246 tanks and three vessels during the military coup attempt in Turkey.

Erdogan declared a three-month state of emergency in Turkey on July 20.

Recently he said that the state of emergency may be prolonged due to the fight with Gulen movement.

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

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