Turkey to save ties with Kyrgyzstan from shadow of FETO

By Diyar Guldogan

ANKARA

Turkey is determined to further enhance bilateral relations with Kyrgyzstan while rescuing it from "the shadow of Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO)", President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Sunday.

"We are resolute in further enhancing our relations in the upcoming period while saving it from the shadow of FETO," Erdogan said at a ceremony at Manas University in the Kyrgyz capital Bishkek, where he was awarded an honorary doctorate.

Erdogan warned Kyrgyzstan about FETO, saying it is a "treacherous and sneaky" organization.

FETO and its U.S.-based leader Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup of July 15, 2016, which left 251 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.

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.

Erdogan said Turkey wants to increase cooperation with "brotherly" Kyrgyzstan not only in the areas of politics but also in economy, trade culture.

About Manas University, which was established in 1995, Erdogan said he had visited the university thrice in the last eight years.

He praised the university for its growth in academics and technology in a short span of 23 years.

"Turkey has contributed $356 million in to the university," Erdogan said.

He added a total of 128 Turkish people were employed at the university as academics and administrative personnel.