19 October 2018•Update: 19 October 2018
By Talha Ozturk
BELGRADE, Serbia
Turkey expects Kosovo to extradite members of FETO, the terrorist group behind the 2016 defeated coup in Turkey, said the Turkish foreign minister on Friday.
"FETO is a terrorist group. It attempted a coup in Turkey,” said Mevlut Cavusoglu in Pristina, Kosovo’s capital, referring to the Fetullah Terrorist Organization.
“It killed 251 of our people mercilessly. Tanks ran over people and they opened fire on our people from helicopters. Those terrorists can do the same in Kosovo,” he told a press conference alongside Behgjet Pacolli, his Kosovar counterpart.
Cavusoglu added: “We expect Kosovo to extradite the terrorists who should be returned to us.”
FETO and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the July 15, 2016 defeated coup which left 251 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.
This March Turkish intelligence officers, in cooperation with Kosovar intelligence, brought six alleged senior FETO members back to Turkey following operations against the terror group’s branch in the Balkans.
On day one of his two-day visit, Cavusoglu also expressed his happiness at visiting Kosovo, calling it his second home.
He also met with President Hashim Thaci.
On day two of his visit, Cavusoglu will meet with Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj and Assembly Chairman Kadri Veseli.
