Cavusoglu: Trump's US understands Turkey better

By Mustafa Keles

NEW YORK (AA) - President Donald Trump’s administration understands the importance of its friend and ally Turkey better than the previous U.S. leadership, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has said.

Cavusoglu is currently in the United States at an anti-Daesh coalition gathering as well as meeting the U.S. authorities on several issues.

Speaking late on Wednesday in New Jersey at a gathering about Turkey’s upcoming constitutional referendum, Cavusoglu said Ankara had raised the extradition of Fetullah Gulen once again with the U.S. authorities.

He said Turkey had again provided additional evidence not only for Gulen’s extradition but also to secure a provisional arrest warrant for the fugitive until the extradition process began.

"Turkey expects the Trump administration to take steps in this regard," the minister said.

Gulen, leader of Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) -- accused of orchestrating the failed 15 July 2016 coup attempt in Turkey which left 249 people martyred, and around 2,200 others wounded -- resides in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania.

- Referendum

The constitutional referendum to be held on April 16 will see voters cast their ballots for or against an 18-article bill passed by the Turkish parliament in January.

These reforms would -- among other things -- abolish the post of prime minister and allow the president to retain ties to a political party.

"The Turkish people need this system and it is a guarantee of a Turkey after [President] Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Whoever comes to power, the administration will be strong, there will be less bureaucracy, no coalitions and a stronger democracy," Cavusoglu said.

According to the foreign minister, previous coalition governments had negative social and economic effects on the country and had undermined stability.

He also said Erdogan and his team had been successful in the last 15 years in reaching the goal set by the Turkish Republic's founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk in "achieving further the level of contemporary civilization".