But Turkish officials are angered over a perceived lack of sympathy by Western officials who they say are more anxious about the crackdown than the coup itself.
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“We have started to receive some positive signals on the calls we have made” for Gulen’s extradition, Cavusoglu told journalists in Ankara during a press briefing.
Turkey also wants to boost economic ties with Iran with the purchase of additional natural gas, Cavusoglu said, adding they also discussed the transfer of Iranian gas to Europe. Two generals captured in Dubai and another in Kuwait have been sent back.
Meanwhile, Turkey has continued to purge the state bureaucracy of alleged supporters of Fethullah Gulen, the US-based Turkish Islamic cleric accused of plotting the coup, charges he denies.
When asked, a State Department official did not indicate that the US position has changed regarding Gulen’s extradition.
Russian President Vladimir Putin greets Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at Konstantin Palac in Strenla, St. Petersburg on August 9.
More than 76,000 people with suspected links to Gulen have also been suspended or dismissed from their jobs in the judiciary, media, education, health care, military and local government, according to Interior Ministry figures.
Erdogan’s spokesman, Ibrahim Kalin, said Turkey and Russian Federation – who are backing opposing sides in Syria – set up committees to discuss the war torn countries and the first sessions are to take place this week.
“Everything is out in the open”.
“I say if we are strategic partners then you should bring about our request”, he said.
There are also 216 soldiers who have disappeared after the attempted coup.
Erdogan also announced that Turkey and Russian Federation would reinstate their annual bilateral trade target of $100 billion, according to Reuters.
During President Erdogan’s visit to St. Petersburg on Tuesday, the two leaders agreed to set up a joint committee on Syria, which consists of military and intelligence officers and diplomats from both Russian Federation and Turkey.
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He said the decree for pilots would be published soon. He said there is no difference between FETO and other terrorism-related groups. The government has arrested hundreds in relation to the coup.
