Turkey’s prime minister said on Saturday that Ankara could not compromise with the United States over its request for the extradition of the Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen, who it blames for orchestrating last month’s attempted coup.
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The documents were handed to the Minister of Justice, who will transfer it to the United States authorities.
More than 240 people were killed and almost 2200 injured in the violent coup attempt by Fethullah Terror Organisation (FETO) led by Gülen. The United States has so far refused to do so.
US Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Joseph Dunford was the first senior US official to visit Turkey on August 1 following the coup attempt.
Yildirim told reporters in Ankara his government has not backed down from demands the US government hand over Fethullah Gulen, a former Erdogan ally who lives in Pennsylvania and runs a series of influential Muslim schools outside Turkey.
“The main element improving our relations with the U.S.is the extradition of Gulen, where there is no room for negotiation”, he said.
For its part, the administration of President Barack Obama said it would need evidence on the alleged involvement of the man, adding that normal extradition procedures would need to take place.
A U.S. delegation will arrive in Turkey on August 22nd for a trip of several days to discuss the extradition request.
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“While in Ankara, the Vice President will meet with President [Recep Tayyip] Erdogan and Prime Minister [Binali] Yildirim to discuss the US-Turkey relationship and a range of issues of importance to both nations”, the White House said in a Saturday statement. The White House confirmed the trip by Biden, to be held on August 24th.
