Turkey pledges to 'root out' FETO from Balkans

By Ahmet Sait Akcay

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey’s president on Wednesday pledged to eliminate the Balkans presence of the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), the group behind last year’s defeated coup in Turkey.

“We will root out this traitorous gang called FETO from the Balkans as we have done in Turkey,” Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in Novi Pazar, Serbia, during an official two-day visit to that country.

Speaking alongside his Serbian counterpart Aleksandar Vucic, he mentioned Turkey’s efforts against the FETO network in the wake of the July 15, 2016 defeated coup attempt.

FETO and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the coup bid of July 15, 2016, which left 250 people martyred and some 2,200 injured.

Erdogan also said Turkey and Serbia have entered a new era in bilateral relations, with new projects to enhance ties, adding that 16 agreements have been signed during his visit this week.

He also said that Turkey is willing to cooperate with Serbia in all areas.

Turkey also accuses FETO of a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police, and judiciary.