Sanaa: Trkiye is taking measures to ensure that structures similar to the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) can never again establish themselves within the state system, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Wednesday. Speaking to reporters at a train station in Przemysl, Poland, before traveling to Ukraine, Fidan reflected on the 10th anniversary of the July 15, 2016 defeated coup attempt.
According to Anadolu Agency, Fidan stated that FETO is now a structure whose period of usefulness has ended but continues its struggle against the state. He emphasized that the organization also targets the country's elected leadership and collaborates with international power networks. Following the coup attempt, Trkiye embarked on a new struggle for liberation, dealing significant blows to domestic and foreign terrorist networks, particularly FETO. Fidan noted that removing FETO-linked elements from state institutions allowed the government to refocus on its mission of serving the public.
The determination demonstrated by the Turkish people under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's leadership was crucial in removing the organization from the system, Fidan added. He assured that measures and regulations introduced would prevent such structures from infiltrating the state system in the future. Efforts are ongoing to prevent FETO from conducting unlawful activities and operations against Trkiye in other countries where its members reside. Fidan urged members living abroad to reject its leadership and pledge loyalty to Trkiye, arguing that FETO's senior figures were manipulating supporters to maintain relevance and serve foreign intelligence services.
The July 15, 2016 coup attempt was executed by a faction within the Turkish Armed Forces linked to FETO, resulting in 253 deaths and thousands of injuries.
Fidan also announced his plans to visit Kyiv by train due to closed Ukrainian airspace, with an expected travel time of 10 hours. During the visit, he will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other officials to convey messages from President Erdogan. Fidan's recent diplomatic engagements include talks in Moscow with Russian leaders and attending international summits on Erdogan's behalf. Trkiye is focused on seeking ways to stop the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, having previously facilitated negotiations and brokered the Black Sea grain agreement.
Additionally, the Turkish Foreign Ministry welcomed the Ukrainian parliament's approval of a bill ratifying the Trkiye-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement. Signed on February 3, 2022, before the war, the agreement's entry into force is seen as a milestone in the strategic partnership established in 2011. The deal is expected to strengthen trade and economic ties while expanding cooperation opportunities. The ministry highlighted that this development signifies the continued growth of bilateral relations despite the ongoing conflict.