Albania must watch out for FETO, warns Turkish official

BELGRADE, Serbia (AA) - Albania should be watch out for the dangerous Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), the group behind last July’s defeated coup in Turkey, urged a visiting Turkish official Wednesday.

"They need to be very careful. Albania is in fact going through a very sensitive process. It seems that a terrorist organization in Turkey that can’t reach its goals and can’t find safe haven anymore is making a great effort to carve out new areas for itself," Food, Agriculture and Livestock Minister Faruk Celik told Anadolu Agency in Albania's capital Tirana, where he is paying an official visit to boost bilateral trade.

Celik characterized FETO as a sneaky and dangerous organization.

Led by U.S.-based Fetullah Gulen, FETO is accused of orchestrating the July 15 coup plot -- which left 249 people martyred and some 2,200 injured -- as well as being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police, and the judiciary.

Speaking about FETO members fleeing Turkey to become fugitives in other countries, Celik said that one of those countries is Albania.

"The important thing is that the government is aware of this. As a friendly country, we provide them the information. The rest is their own responsibility," said Celik.

He stressed that Turkey does not interfere in the internal affairs of any country, including ones in the Balkans.