Turkish ambassador points out FETO network in Albania

TIRANA, Albania

Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) has the strongest network in Albania among all Balkan countries, Turkey's ambassador to Albania has said.

In an exclusive interview with Anadolu Agency on Saturday, Hidayet Bayraktar said schools form the backbone of FETO presence in Albania.

He said FETO had benefited from the vacuum in education in the country following the collapse of communism in the region in 1992.

Bayraktar said FETO operates 12 schools in Albania.

"Five of these are religious Imam-Hatip schools…two of them are universities and the rest are regular primary and secondary schools,” he said.

He said FETO had made a lot of efforts in the Balkans and Albania.

Bayraktar also said FETO has trade unions, nongovernmental organizations, hospitals religious institutions in Albania.

"This organization is expert in abusing the goodwill, conspiracy fraud. They are showing their expertise in Albania," he said.

Bayraktar said FETO members try to have good relations with influential circles and hide their true face.

He said FETO was doing clandestine work in Albania by hiding under the cover of education. He added FETO organizing conspiracies against those they do not like.

FETO and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gulen are accused of orchestrating the defeated July 2016 coup in Turkey, which left 249 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.

Ankara has said FETO is also behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police and judiciary, and has also accused it of infiltrating other countries through educational institutions, among others.