Turkish FM says terror fight in line with democracy

WASHINGTON

Turkey’s efforts to combat enemies at home and abroad have been carried out in line with the country’s democratic principles, Turkey’s top diplomat said Monday.

“While resolutely fighting the PKK and Daesh, Turkey has now also managed to endure a terrorist military coup against its democracy. Yet, our fight is being kept strictly in line with democratic rules,” Mevlut Cavusoglu wrote in an opinion piece published in the American weekly magazine, Newsweek.

The article comes roughly three weeks after a defeated military coup bid in Turkey that left 240 people martyred and injured nearly 2,200 others.

The Turkish government has accused the U.S.-based preacher, Fetullah Gulen, of masterminding the July 15 putsch.

“In full betrayal to their sacred uniforms, they massacred the civilians who bravely stood against them; their tanks crushed these innocent democracy defenders,” Cavusoglu wrote.

"Turkish democracy won a battle that night. Yet, there is also the war to win to fully finish this painful episode of our life,” he added.

The foreign minister warned against “hasty conclusions” concerning Turkey’s fight against the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO).

“As Turkey goes through this period, what we expect from our friends abroad is solidarity and understanding,” he wrote. “For this, we certainly keep all channels open as always for constructive dialogue.”

Turkey has long warned its partners about Gulen's "ominous aims", Cavusoglu wrote, noting that the foiled July 15 coup "has left, hopefully, no doubt about" his followers.

Gulen is accused of leading a long-running campaign to overthrow the Turkish state through the infiltration of institutions, particularly the military, police and judiciary, forming what is commonly known as the parallel state.

Turkey has requested that the U.S. extradite Gulen to face trial.

Turkish ambassador to the U.S., Serdar Kilic, told Anadolu Agency on Sunday that Washington was in cooperation with Ankara over the extradition process, a concerted effort he said would be solidified with American and Turkish delegations getting ready to pay mutual visits in the coming days.