Germany working on fugitive FETO suspect issue: Gul

By Kerem Kocalar

GAZIANTEP, Turkey 

Turkish officials have appealed to Berlin to arrest and extradite FETO coup suspect Adil Oksuz, and Germany has started to work on this issue based on its law, Turkish Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gul said on Tuesday.

Speaking to news channel Haber Turk on the fugitive Oksuz’s presence in Germany, Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gul said: "We expect that Germany will positively respond to our appeal as soon as possible. This is also the legal requirement of international relations. There is no negative result in this regard, we expect positive results."

Oksuz, a senior figure in the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), is accused of masterminding the defeated coup of July 15, 2016 in Turkey -- which martyred 250 people and injured some 2,200 -- and has been on the run from justice for nearly two years.

Anadolu Agency revealed last week that the 51-year-old suspect stayed for some time at a small apartment in Berlin’s Neukoelln district under the protection of FETO members.

Since the 2016 defeated coup attempt, nearly 4,000 FETO suspects have traveled from Turkey to Germany and other countries, according to local media reports.

Several FETO suspects, including former soldiers and diplomats, have applied for asylum in various German federal states. 

Gulen’s US extradition

About the Turkish request for the extradition of FETO terrorist leader Fetullah Gulen -- a longtime U.S. resident -- Gul said: "An appeal was made to the U.S. for Gulen and the documents were also submitted to U.S. authorities regarding Fetullah Gulen’s extradition. The work on extradition is continuing."

Turkish authorities have repeatedly criticized the U.S. administration for not extraditing the terror leader despite submitting all the necessary documents for this.

"Justice Ministry officials, along with a Foreign Ministry delegation, entered into this process," Gul stressed.

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

US and Turkish patrols in Manbij, Syria

Speaking on the U.S. and Turkish patrols in the northern Syrian city of Manbij, Gul said: "Important steps have been taken for Manbij. Turkey's relationship as a win-win continues in the interests of our country."

"The U.S. and Turkey will come together soon. Relevant Justice Ministry officials will also attend the meeting. I see that dialogue with the U.S. is getting more positive."

The Turkish army on Monday announced the start of patrols in Manbij by Turkish and U.S. troops in line with a previously agreed roadmap for eliminating terrorists and stabilizing the area.

In a tweet, the Turkish Armed Forces said patrols were being carried out between Manbij and the area liberated by Turkey's Operation Euphrates Shield.

The roadmap was first announced after a June 3 meeting in Washington between Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

The deal focuses on the withdrawal of the PKK-affiliated YPG terror group from the northern Syrian city and stability in the region.

Arabs account for more than 90 percent of the local population in Manbij.