Turkish PM urges U.S. to extradite Gulen
By Kamila Aliyeva
Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım has met with the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency's (CIA) Director, Mike Pompeo, and urged him to extradite Fethullah Gulen, whom Ankara accuses of organizing a military coup attempt in July 2016.
During the meeting in Ankara on February 10, Yıldırım stressed Turkey's attitude towards the fight against the Gulenist Terror Group (FETO) and requested Gulen's extradition, while also demanding cooperation with U.S. authorities to fight against FETO within the United States.
Yıldırım also emphasized the importance of cooperation with the new U.S. administration, Daily Sabah reported.
The PM and the CIA Director also agreed to establish close relations in the war against terrorism as well as on issues of organized crimes and intelligence regarding bilateral and regional issues.
Pompeo stated that U.S. attached importance to dialogue with Turkey and also offered his condolences for the three Turkish soldiers killed in Syria's al-Bab on Thursday, who were mistakenly targeted by Russian fighter jets, the statement added.
The newly appointed CIA Director paid his first overseas visit to Turkey, after he took office in January 2017.
Pompeo and his delegation met with his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan and Turkish military officials on Thursday before being received by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Led by U.S.-based Fetullah Gulen, FETO is accused of orchestrating the July 2016 coup plot in Turkey as well as being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police, and judiciary.
The July 15 defeated coup left at least 250 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.
The Turkish government has repeatedly requested Gulen’s extradition, while the Obama administration has said extradition is a lengthy, demanding legal procedure.
Earlier Ankara voiced hope that the Trump administration will make the right choice between the leader of FETO and the relations with Turkey.
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Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva
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