Balkans should not tolerate FETÖ infiltration: Turkish deputy PM

LJUBLJANA

Balkan countries should not tolerate efforts by the network of U.S.-based Islamic preacher Fethullah Gülen to infiltrate their societies, Deputy Prime Minister Hakan Çavuşoğlu said on April 25. 

The group uses “educational and other institutions as shields,” Çavuşoğlu said at the South-East European Countries Cooperation Process (SEECP) summit in the Slovenian capital Ljubljana, state-run Anadolu Agency reported.

“[The Fethullahist Terror Organization] FETÖ tries to infiltrate the systems of the countries where it is present. We expect the countries of the region to not tolerate this and to take necessary measures,” he added.

Çavuşoğlu also said Turkey was responsible for preventing “terror and migration flows” faced by the Balkans and southeastern Europe.

Turkey’s “fight against terrorist groups” in Syria and Iraq has made very important contributions to the security of Europe, the EU and NATO, he added.

“Thanks to the measures we have taken, foreign terrorists passing through our country and European countries has been prevented,” Çavuşoğlu said.

The Gülen movement, once a close ally of the Turkish government but now a nemesis labeled FETÖ, is widely believed to have orchestrated the July 2016 coup attempt, which left 250 people killed and nearly 2,200 injured.

Ankara accuses FETÖ of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, the police and the judiciary.