UPDATES WITH MORE QUOTES FROM FM
By Emin Avundukluoglu
ANKARA (AA) - The U.S. is “continuing its mistake” of backing terror groups such as the PKK/PYD in the region, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Thursday.
Speaking before the parliament's plenary and budget committee, Cavusoglu slammed the U.S. over its reported support for the deal between the PKK/PYD and Daesh terror groups.
"The U.S is continuing its mistake," the foreign minister said.
He said the U.S. had backed the PKK/PYD for its tactical purpose. "We told them we cannot accept this."
Cavusoglu also pointed out the U.S. had not denied reports about cooperation between the PKK/PYD and Daesh terror groups.
"We will continue expressing the danger of cooperation with terrorist organizations," the minister added.
The BBC reported on Monday that a deal had been struck between Daesh and the SDF, a U.S.-backed force that consists largely of PKK/PYD terrorists, in Syria's Raqqah.
- Extradition of Gulen
After speaking to many of those involved in the evacuation, the British broadcaster said a huge convoy consisting of around 50 trucks, 13 buses and more than 100 Daesh vehicles left Raqqah for Daesh-controlled territory to the southeast.
The report said Daesh also withdrew at least 10 vehicles loaded with arms and ammunition and the fighters included foreigners alongside Iraqis and Syrians.
Cavusoglu also reiterated the importance Turkey gives to stability and the future of Syria.
"We see the mistakes, which have been done in Iraq, are now being repeated in Syria as well," he said.
He called for more cooperation with Syrians instead of with terrorist organizations in Syria.
Cavusoglu recalled that the U.S. has not fulfilled Turkey's demand for extradition of Fetullah Gulen, the U.S.-based leader of Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), the group behind last year’s defeated coup attempt.
"Not opening any investigation on FETO’s activities in the U.S. and ignoring Turkey’s extradition demand has increased tensions between the two countries,” he said.
- Countries supporting FETO
Cavusoglu said that they were making an effort to prevent FETO's slander campaign against Turkey in the world.
He added that the government had asked for several FETO members to be extradited to Turkey.
“After this, FETO members were given the instructions ‘Do not get out from Schengen region'. They were also told 'Do not get out from some countries in Africa’.
“So, we clearly see which countries are protecting FETO in Europe, in the Schengen region. We also clearly see in which African countries FETO members are setting up bases," he said.
FETO and its leader Gulen, orchestrated the July 15, 2016 defeated coup attempt which left 250 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.
Turkey also accuses FETO of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police, and judiciary.
Cavusoglu added that action against FETO-linked schools in 15 countries had been taken.