FETO threat to all countries where it exists: Erdogan

By Diyar Guldogan

ANKARA

The Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) poses a threat not only to Turkey, but also to all countries where it is present, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Friday.

Erdogan's remarks came during a joint press conference with his Kazakh counterpart Nursultan Nazarbayev in the capital, Ankara.

During their talks, Erdogan said they discussed both bilateral relations, as well as last month's coup attempt and U.S.-based preacher Fetullah Gulen's role in it.

"On the night of July 15, our country was subjected to one of the most despicable, most reckless and bloodiest betrayals in our political history," Erdogan said.

The coup attempt revealed the "dark side", "sneaky plans"and "main motives" of the FETO, he said, adding "FETO poses a threat not only to Turkey, but also to all countries where it is present."

Erdogan vowed to "resolutely maintain our struggle both at home and abroad."

The President also praised Nazarbayev for being the first foreign president, who visited Turkey and showed solidarity following the foiled coup.

Nazarbayev said: "I came here to declare that I am standing by Erdogan. Turkey is one of the most closest and reliable partners of Kazakhstan."

Erdogan said there were 33 FETO-linked schools in Kazakhstan, and Turkey presented Kazakh officials with a list of them.

Nazarbayev said Kazakhstan would not support anyone who was against Turkey.

"This situation is not in our interests. We do not want that. We agreed on this issue," Nazarbayev said, adding that the culture ministries of both countries would form a working group to control the schools.

"Kazakhstan will send back any FETO-linked teachers and it will demand new teachers from Turkey," he said.

Turkey has accused Gulen for ordering the foiled coup, which claimed more than 230 lives and injured nearly 2,200 others, and repeatedly demanded his extradition to Turkey to face trial.

Gulen has lived in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania since 1999 and is also accused of a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police, and judiciary, forming what is commonly known as "the parallel state".