Turkey criticizes Swiss media outlet

By Bayram Altug

GENEVA, Switzerland (AA) - Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister and Director of EU Affairs Faruk Kaymakci criticized a French-language newspaper Tuesday for publishing an interview about terrorist group ringleader Fetullah Gulen.

“It is sad to see that a newspaper like yours has given a terrorist ringleader the opportunity to spread his false thoughts and mislead the truth, albeit in the name of press freedom,” Kaymakci said in an interview with La Tribune de Geneve, a prominent newspaper in the French-speaking area of Switzerland.

“Fetullah Gulen is a ringleader of a terrorist organization that attempted a coup on July 15, 2016 and cost 251 people’s lives and injured thousands.”

He underlined that FETO is a sneaky network that has been trying to infiltrate schools, police forces, the justice system, diplomacy and banks for 50 years and has people’s blood on its hands.

He went on to say that FETO, which is masterminded by Gulen, is the main threat to Turkey’s democracy.

Kaymakci also emphasized that intelligence services including in the U.S. used FETO’s international network, in particular, schools.

’80% of Turkish people want EU membership’

Regarding Turkey's bid for EU membership, Kaymakci said: “The EU has many problems to overcome: Brexit, domestic problems, disagreements with the U.S., energy, migrants and security. Turkey seems too big, too poor and too Muslim. On our side, we had three difficult years after the failed coup attempt, but we continue our reforms with the aim of membership; Eighty percent of Turkish people want Turkey to become a member of the EU.”

*Writing by Burak Dag