“According to the 1981 extradition treaty with the U.S., we’d expect Gulen to be detained, however, he still roams freely”, Erdogan said during a joint press conference with the visiting U.S. Vice President Joe Biden.
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At the press conference, Erdogan also confirmed the Free Syrian Army (FSA), Syria’s opposition forces, has forced the militants in Jarablus of northern Syria out with the help of Turkish forces and the US -led coalition forces.
As Rudaw explains, Turkey has drawn a proverbial line in the sand around the town of Jarabulus, now held by the Islamic State, but soon to be attacked by Free Syrian Army forces supported by Ankara.
Turkish Foreign Minister Cavusoglu said on August 24 that Syrian Kurdish fighters must return to the eastern side of the Euphrates River or Turkish military forces would “do what is necessary”.
Turkey’s demands for the extradition of the USA -based cleric blamed for a failed July coup should not be disregarded and bilateral agreements between Ankara and Washington require his detention, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday. “None. But we need to meet the legal standard requirement under our law”, he said.
He also said that while the USA has received a request to extradite Gulen over allegations that predated the coup, it has not received an extradition request or any evidence related to the coup itself.
“Working through the [extradition] process will take time”.
“We will continue to abide by the system and, God willing, there will be enough data and evidence to be able to meet the criteria that you all believe exist”, Biden said.
“We are cooperating with Turkish authorities”, Biden said, referring to the extradition request.
A strain in relations – Turkey’s request that the United States extradite the cleric, Fethullah Gulen – was a key part of the agenda during the vice president’s brief visit to the country.
“Were a president to attempt to do that, it would be an impeachable offense”, he said.
Speaking after meeting Erdogan in Ankara, Biden said those involved in the coup attempt were terrorists and said the US had more lawyers working on the Gulen extradition request than in any other such recent case.
He was speaking in relation to Turkey’s request to extradite the wealthy Gulen, accused of being behind a failed coup attempt on July 15 in Turkey.
Rogue troops commandeered tanks, jets and helicopters to attack state institutions in Istanbul and Ankara in the failed coup bid that killed 241 people and prompted a purge of thousands of suspected Gulen followers in the armed forces and civil service. It is never understood why the wheels of justice move deliberately and slowly.
Biden said he regretted not being able to travel to Turkey sooner to show solidarity with the Turkish people and the Turkish government. He promised that Washington would work closely with the Turkish government on the case.
Biden – the highest-ranking USA official to visit Turkey since the coup – was apologetic and conciliatory during his joint news conference with Erdogan.
“When you go into an American court you can not say “this is a bad guy”.
He said USA use of the Incirlik air base in southeastern Turkey “remains the lynchpin” for carrying out air strikes against Islamic State fighters.
“The attempted coup went to the heart of who your people are – principled, courageous and committed”.
Earlier, Biden toured the sections of parliament damaged during the coup attempt.
A small group of young demonstrators protested Biden’s motorcade as he headed to Prime Minister Binali Yildirim’s residence, Anadolu news agency reported.
The vice president also expressed “admiration” to the Turkish people for taking to the streets during the coup attempt to “take back” their democracy.
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After Biden’s remarks, Erdogan called the relationship with the U.S.
