Turkey warns West over alleged coup supporters
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 11 August 2016 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Turkey warns West over alleged coup supporters, 11 August 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57db99e04.html [accessed 5 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
August 11, 2016
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attends a news conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin (not seen) following their meeting in St. Petersburg on August 9.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and other Turkish officials have given harsh warnings to the United States and the European Union, saying they are making grave mistakes in their response to last month's failed coup.
Thousands of people, waving Turkish flags, gathered outside the presidential palace in Ankara on August 10 to hear Erdogan call anew for the United States to extradite Fethullah Gulen, а self-exiled Muslim cleric whom he accuses of orchestrating the coup attempt.
Gulen denies any involvement.
"Sooner or later the United States of America will make a choice. Either Turkey or [Gulen]," he told the crowd.
Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, meanwhile, told the state-run Anadolu Agency that the EU was making serious mistakes in its criticism of Turkish policies.
The rhetoric comes just a day after Erdogan staged a high-profile visit to Moscow to mend fences with Russia's President Vladimir Putin.
Many observers speculated that in addition to getting Moscow to lift damaging economic sanctions, Erdogan was sending a message to the West, to gain leverage and mute criticism of his domestic policies.
Based on reporting by Reuters and AP
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
