In the highest-ranking visit by a Western official since Turkey’s July 15 failed coup, Biden will seek to repair relations with its NATO ally after the putsch, which Ankara blames on Pennsylvania-based preacher Fethullah Gulen. He added, however, that the request was not related to the coup attempt, but did not elaborate. The U.S. has said it would consider extradition but required concrete evidence to do so. This month Erdogan traveled to Moscow to boost ties and possibly collaboration on ending Syria’s civil war, something Moscow has sought unsuccessfully with Washington.
Advertisement
He last visited Turkey in January and is the only US official to have built a closer personal relationship with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. He denies any part in the violence, and says he believes the charges against him are politically motivated, WSJ says.
The latest State Department comments come as diplomats and officials from the US Justice Department were due to meet with Turkish authorities about the Gulen case.
Gulen has lived in self-imposed exile in the U.S. since 1999 and is also accused of leading FETO.
US confirms Gulen extradition request, but says no link with Turkey coup was posted in World of TheNews International – https://www.thenews.com.pk on August 24, 2016 and was last updated on August 24, 2016.
“The US administration, President Obama and Mr. Vice President as well, have clearly and explicitly condemned the coup attempt”, Yildirim said, indicating he accepted the validity of their words.
The U.S.is sending a Justice Department team to Turkey to help sort out the technical requirements of the request, said the officials, who briefed reporters ahead of Biden’s trip on condition of anonymity. “They sacrificed their lives for their country to stay strong and democratic”, said Biden.
“Under American law no president of the United States has authority to extradite anyone on his own power”.
A U.S. delegation began meetings with Turkish counterparts on Tuesday to discuss the Gulen network’s activities. “And as per the treaties we have, the necessary steps should be taken with a view to his extradition”. Some 35,000 people have been detained for questioning and more than 17,000 of them have been formally arrested to face trial, including soldiers, police, judges and journalists.
Advertisement
“It’s never understood that the wheels of justice move deliberately and slowly”, Biden said. “You have no greater friend than the United States of America”. It was the deadliest attack this year in Turkey, joining other deadly attacks by IS or by the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, known as the PKK.
