Defying the rules of diplomacy, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu called on Greece to handout several hundreds alleged coups supporters the regime in Ankara describes as “Gulenists”.
“We don’t want Greece to become a safe haven for FETÖ [Fetullahist Terrorist Organization],” Çavuşoğlu told reporters speaking at a joint press conference with his Greek counterpart, Nikos Kotzias, in Ankara.
Turkish authorities obtained information that 995 Turks have applied for asylum in Greece after last year’s coup attempt, Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said on Oct. 24.
The minister said Turkey is “disappointed” after the Greek court ruled against extraditing eight Turkish soldiers accused of involvement in an attempted coup on July 15, 2016. He recalled that two of the soldiers that fled to Greece are suspects in a court case for attempting to assassinate President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Cavusoglu claimed further that Turkish authorities obtained information that 995 Turks have applied for asylum in Greece after last year’s coup attempt.
Those asylum seekers needed to be evaluated to determine those linked to the Gülen Movement, the network of the U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gülen, whom Turkey accuses of masterminding the putsch.
Turkey is “still hopeful” for the return of the eight soldiers despite the “bad experience,” Çavuşoğlu said.
On his part, Greek Foreign Minister, Nikos Kotzias said the decisions on asylum seekers were made by the Greek judiciary and had to be respected. He stressed that he and his cabinet members were among the sufferers from coups in Greece.
The exploratory talks between Turkey and Greece, aimed at resolving the decades-long dispute over the official border between the two countries in the Aegean Sea, will resume according to Çavuşoğlu.
The two ministers’ meeting also aimed preliminary discussions for the upcoming High Level Cooperation Council meeting planned for February.
During the press conference Mevlut Cavusoglu also said Turkey was keeping its side of an agreement made with the European Union on curbing the flow of migrants to Europe. The ministers met in Ankara after a recent increase in the number of migrants illegally entering Greece from Turkey.
Kotzias said improved ties between Turkey and Greece are to the benefit of both nations and reiterated support for Turkish membership in the EU.
Later on Tuesday, Kotzias met with President Erdogan, he invited him to visit Athens.
Kotzias paid an official visit to Turkey following an invitation by Cavusoglu.
sources: hurriyetdailynews, starsandstripes
