Ankara urges Athens to see FETO as 'enemy'

By Cansu Dikme

ANKARA

Prime Minister Binali Yildirim on Friday called on Greece to regard Fetullah Terrorist Organization members as its own "enemy" just like its neighbor Turkey views the group.

Yildirim's remarks came after the recent Greek court’s decision to release a FETO-linked coup plotter.

Speaking to reporters in capital Ankara, the premier said: "Greece is a neighbor and a friendly country to Turkey. We think that our enemy should also be seen as an enemy of Greece.

"We believe Greece should behave in accordance to that."

On Thursday, the Greek Council of State -- the highest administrative court in Greece -- ordered the release of ex-Turkish soldier Suleyman Ozkaynakci under judicial control.

Ozkaynakci's asylum request had been accepted in December 2017 by an independent asylum commission, but later the Greek government raised an objection to it.

He was released briefly after being granted asylum but was arrested again after the government raised an objection to the asylum.

The Greek Council of State evaluated the government’s objection on Thursday and ordered the release of Ozkaynakci under strict control until the results of asylum applications of all eight Turkish coup plotters come out.

The Council of State is expected to make a final decision over the asylum requests of all the eight ex-Turkish soldiers on May 4.

Yildirim also reiterated Turkey's call for extradition of FETO members from Greece.

"Recently, FETO culprits have been seeing Greece as a safe haven. This harms our neighbourly and friendly relations. I hope that they extradite FETO members from Greece. We reiterate this call," he said.

Turkey does not want FETO members to have a negative influence on Turkey-Greece relations, he added.

FETO and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup on July 15, 2016, which left 250 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.