Gülen will pay the price whatever happens: Turkish PM

ANKARA

DHA photo

Fethullah Gülen, who is widely believed to be behind the July 15 coup attempt, will account for his actions, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım said Feb. 21. 

The new U.S. administration seems to be more accommodating and sensitive over the extradition of Gülen, who lives in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania, Yıldırım said, adding that discussions with U.S. officials were continuing.  

“As for FETÖ [Fethullahist Terror Organization], we are continuing our negotiations with U.S. authorities on the extradition, and see that the new administration will be more accommodating and sensitive in this regard,” Yıldırım told party members in parliament. 

“No matter what the condition is, FETÖ will come and pay the price,” Yıldırım said, referring to Gülen. 
Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmuş also emphasized the importance of bilateral relations with the U.S. concerning the extradition of Gülen. 

His words came after U.S. Republican Senator John McCain’s meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Yıldırım on Feb. 20. Kurtulmuş said the meeting should be interpreted in a positive light.   

“It also signals that some disagreements with the U.S., especially on Syria, have begun to be resolved, and some agreements that will pave the way for positive steps to be taken against FETÖ will be formed,” he said. 
Turkey has submitted further documents to the U.S. Justice Department to back its previous request for the extradition.

Still speaking in parliament, Yıldırım urged people to vote in favor of changing Turkey’s constitution in the upcoming April 16 referendum.

Yıldırım dismissed claims a “yes” vote would end up dividing Turkey.      
  
Recalling the hard times Turkey went through in 2016, including the July 15 defeated coup, Yıldırım said Turkey was now back on track after it learnt its lesson from last year.        

“Those planning to darken the future of Turkey are doomed. No power can now block Turkey’s rise. Turkey has taken very firm steps. Despite everything, it stays stable, no doubt!” he added.      
  
“They said ‘no’ to whatever contributed to Turkey’s stable progress. Now they have started a campaign to block the transformation of a democratic Turkey,” he said.        

He also praised Turkish people living abroad who he expected to vote “yes” in the referendum. 

Millions of Turkish immigrants live in Germany.