By Genc Mlloja
Senior Diplomatic Editor
15 July is commemorated as a national day in Turkey namely “Democracy and National Unity Day” and this year marks the fourth anniversary of a bloody coup attempt which was prevented by Turkish nation. Albanian Daily News had a talk with the Turkish Ambassador to Tirana, Murat Ahmet Yoruk on this occasion and he dwelt at length on that coup attempt which was orchestrated by FETO under the instructions of Fetullah Gulen.
“Albanian people closely followed the coup attempt on their televisions on the night of 15 July. They were praying for the victory of the Turkish people over the coup plotters, as they have told me many times,” said the Ambassador who revealed that there is a rising awareness against FETO in Albania.
Ankara’s top diplomat to Tirana said Turkey has always supported the Euro-Atlantic integration of Albania and the rest of the Balkan countries. “We wish Albania a successful negotiation process and hope to see Albania as a full member of the EU as early as possible,” Turkish Ambassador Murat Ahmet Yoruk said in the interview which follows:
ADN: Mr. Ambassador at the outset I thank you for this opportunity to share some of your opinions with us at these times of crucial importance for every country and worldwide. Among others 2020 marks the 4th anniversary of the failed coup attempt of 15 July 2016 of FETO. What is the importance of this day for Turkey and beyond?
Turkish Ambassador Murat Yoruk: 15 July is commemorated as a national day in Turkey namely “Democracy and National Unity Day”. Four years ago, Turkish nation prevented a bloody coup attempt, and defended the democratic and constitutional order of Turkey. This resistance has been successful thanks to the strong stand of Turkish government institutions, military and security forces which proves the high level of democratic awareness.
Upon a call from our President, H.E. Mr. Erdogan, who was elected by the majority of Turkish nation, Turkish people didn’t hesitate to make the ultimate sacrifice, which set an example to the whole world. Turkish people showed their steel-strong will to prevent the capture of state. We are grateful to the martyrs who gave their lives for this cause and we will never forget these heroes. The resolve shown by the Turkish nation against this attempted coup is of great value to the further cementing of democracy in Turkey. The resistance of all party groups in the Turkish Parliament to the coup attempt through a united position is truly significant and put its stamp on history. This united position and single voice continues today in Turkey.
-As a follow up, Your Excellency, FETO is officially recognized as a clandestine, criminal and terrorist organization in Turkey and Fetullah Gulen is the ringleader. What is the structure and aims of this group? What had it been doing towards its failed coup attempt before 15 July?
-All the evidence throughout the investigations and trials demonstrates that the coup attempt was orchestrated by FETO under the instructions of Fetullah Gulen. We have an extensive collection of factual evidence including video footage, digital materials gathered at Akinci Air Base (the center of operations ofv the coup-plotters), satellite communications among plotters, the confessions of FETO members who actively participated in the coup attempt and the statements of those Turkish officers resisting the coup attempt.
Hundreds of civilians protesting the coup attempt in Ankara and Istanbul were shot to death by FETO members. They tried to assassinate the President of the Republic of Turkey. They attacked the Prime Minister’s vehicle and air-bombarded the Turkish Parliament. The Presidential Complex, National Intelligence Organization and Turkish National Police buildings were attacked. The Police Special Operations Center, the crucial counter-terrorism body in Ankara, was bombed by fighter jets, killing 55 police officers and injuring hundreds on the spot. The coup plotters targeted public and private communication outlets, including TRT (state broadcasting channel) and CNN Turk.
However, to judge the deeds of Fetullah Gulen and FETO only with what transpired on 15 July would be a mistake. The crimes committed on that night were just the tip of an iceberg. To understand the security threat posed by this group, one needs to look into the enormity of its actions as a criminal group and a messianic cult.
It all started under the guise of a charitable education effort back in the 1970s. Fetullah Gulen and his followers disguised themselves as an education movement, when they started the campaign of establishing schools in Turkey and later around the world. We now understand that this was the first step of an infiltration campaign where kids and their parents were recruited with the promise of a better education and a good job. These kids were put through school with academic and financial help and mainly a heavy hand in indoctrination. The goal was to establish a new indoctrinated regime under the absolute rule of Gulen. His students were told that, to achieve their main goal, they should remain hidden and they should be flexible for all ethical, religious or personal beliefs. There were mass-scale exam cheatings to infiltrate the critical government posts. Their media houses targeted journalists, academicians, bureaucrats and military officers who opposed them, or tried to expose them. As FETO became more affluent, it started laundering money, arranging illegal transfers and other financial crimes.
FETO gradually turned into a secretive operational structure aiming to transform the state by taking control from within. At the peak of their power, they controlled thousands of schools in Turkey and more than eight hundred educational institutes worldwide. The organization began to claim a global messianic mission, depicting Fetullah Gulen as the “Imam of the Universe”.
The government had discovered most of FETO recruits in the military and was getting ready to dismiss them. 15 July was a desperate final move of Fetullah Gulen and his followers to keep their control in place. It demonstrated FETO’s resolution to use terror, alongside other crimes, as a means to achieve its goal. It has shown itself to the world as one of the most dangerous terrorist groups.
-In the past four years, the fight against FETO both inside and outside Turkey has been a priority of your country. What efforts have been taken against this group and which have been the results of this endeavour?
-Firstly, based on the rule of law, the perpetrators of the coup attempt have been brought to justice. Several investigations and judicial processes continue. Secondly, FETO’s organizational structure within government institutions has been unveiled and brought down. Thirdly, FETO’s activities via its shell entities, particularly in the education, media and banking sectors, are thwarted. These steps are taken in line with the principles of the rule of law and fundamental rights and freedoms.
Last year, four party groups in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, including the opposition parties released a joint statement regarding FETO, reiterating the call to our allies and partners, like Albania, to take steps against this terrorist organization and its leadership. Within the scope of investigations in Turkey, we have requested the extradition and the freezing of the assets of FETO members. FETO affiliated schools in 38 countries were closed down or taken over by the relevant country authorities. In 20 of these, the schools were transferred to the Turkish Maarif Foundation.
Several international organizations have adopted resolutions regarding FETO. Resolutions of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers, the Parliamentary Union of the OIC, as well as the Asian Parliamentary Assembly declared FETO as a terrorist organization.
-In the meantime, Mr. Ambassador, FETO has an active presence in Albania. Why is this seen as a threat to Albania and the relations between Albania and Turkey?
-FETO is present in many countries, with schools, businesses, NGOs and media houses. Their modus operandi is the same: It aims to infiltrate the government structures and enlarge their economic, judicial and political influence. FETO’s actions in Turkey prove the level of the direct security threat for any country where they operate.
FETO lost its backbone in Turkey and now is trying to survive by making use of its structure abroad. We, therefore, continue to warn our friends. We observe a rising awareness against FETO in Albania. Especially in the past 2-3 years, Albanian society has become more alert and vocal against their presence in Albania. The words of Mr. Bujar Kapexhiu, a well-known artist and intellectual, who said last year “the Albanian people reject the poisonous food of FETO” is a result of this consciousness. Albanian people closely followed the coup attempt on their televisions on the night of 15 July. They were praying for the victory of the Turkish people over the coup plotters, as they have told me many times. Albanian NGOs issued statements supporting Turkish people’s resistance for democracy and we have received thousands of messages of solidarity from Albanian people. Albanian government and opposition parties were all united in condemning the coup attempt, showing solidarity with the Turkish people.
There is an increasing level of cooperation with the Albanian government in the fight against FETO. As the bilateral relations between our two countries widen and deepen, the presence and activities of FETO in Albania has come under increased scrutiny. FETO affiliated groups and individuals are concerned and they are trying to derail the relations between Turkey and Albania. They are exerting their best efforts to manipulate the public opinion with baseless claims about Turkey and Turkey’s legitimate actions against FETO. They will continue to try to poison our special relations, but at the end of the day, neither our governments nor our friendly nations will fall into the traps of FETO.
Many countries started to investigate this group. Thus, FETO’s extensive list of crimes such as money laundering, bribery and passport/visa fraud, have been revealed in various countries. The Supreme Court of Pakistan gave a verdict that designated FETO as a terrorist group. However, we regret that some western countries, which are built upon values of democracy and human rights, continue to refuse to see the crimes of this terrorist organisation. It is a double standard and a huge contradiction for many countries that have been fighting against terrorism globally, but are now protecting the leader and members of this terrorist group. It is also a grave disrespect to the Turkish nation who defended democracy and made the ultimate sacrifice with their lives against FETO.
-In Tirana there is a monument to the memory of martyrs who lost their lives during the failed coup of 15 July 2016, which is located in the park named “15 July Democracy Park”. I am referring to this Mr. Ambassador wanting to learn of your impression on what message the monument and the trees planted in Tirana carry to Turkish people and you on such an event?
-Upon a call from the Tirana Municipality, the Turkish Development Agency, TİKA, presented this project for the improvement of the southern part of the Artificial Lake Park, with a children’s playground, a renewed landscape, planting of trees, implementing new parks and recreation areas. Like hundreds of other projects by TİKA, this is a gift from Turkish people to the Albanian people. As part of this project, a memorial stone was placed, which commemorates the resistance to the 15 July coup attempt.
On the night of 15 July, Turkish people believed that it is their duty as citizens to defend their democracy and the constitutional order. They flocked to the streets and stood up for the protection of a universal value, which is democracy. That night, our citizens of Albanian origin were also there and their names are also marked on this memorial stone. Most of the people whose names are on the memorial stone are civilians. We believe it is the most important aspect of 15 July. We believe this memorial is a universal symbol for all people who fought for their freedom and democracy. This memorial is dedicated to their sacrifice and their victory. The trees planted in honour of their memories will grow and people will walk under these trees, children will play under the cool shadow of these trees.
Unfortunately this memorial stone was verbally attacked, vandalised and hammered last year and we consider these acts as crimes of hatred. We believe that FETO affiliated circles provoked these attacks. They tried to touch the nerves of society for manipulation. They wished to trigger an artificial crisis. We trust that these crimes will not go unpunished by the Albanian authorities. We also know that Albanian people will not tolerate such provocations again.
-Let me turn, Mr. Ambassador, to the ongoing global coronavirus crisis, and in this frame what can you say on the situation in Turkey when more than four months have passed since its outbreak in Europe and our region?
-The COVID-19 pandemic is challenging the whole world. Turkey has also been affected by the pandemic but we have displayed an exemplary fight. Since the beginning of the outbreak in December 2019, we have been working diligently to stop the spread in Turkey. We stopped all flights and closed our borders with certain countries at an early stage in January and February. We have developed an effective test kit and started vaccine and drug research to contribute to global health. Since the first C19 case in Turkey on 11 March, we have done 3.6 million tests in total. We continue testing rigorously: 350 thousand tests were done only last week.
In total, there are 206,847 confirmed C19 cases and unfortunately, 5,225 people lost their lives. However, 2.53 % mortality rate is well below than many other countries and the 87.35% recovery rate is one of the highest in the world. We have now opened our borders with a number of countries, including Albania. There are a number of measures to protect the people travelling to Turkey, we are applying a special health certificate protocol for tourism and as long as we follow the procedures, it is safe to travel to Turkey.
In the meantime, with the wise and visionary leadership of President Erdogan, Turkey successfully managed to take the necessary measures to continue the economic activity. Therefore, we managed to minimise the negative effects on our supply chains and production facilities. Turkish economy grew by 4.5% in the first quarter of 2020.
Some two-thirds of the nations of the world have requested medical supplies and nearly 140 countries have received medical supplies from Turkey to fight C19. This number of medical aid requests shows that Turkey is a reliable source and a true friend during the hard times. Despite a temporary ban on the export of medical supplies, with a special decree of our President, Turkey sent 7 tonnes of medical supplies to Albania in March. We have also provided to Albania in April 6 fully equipped ambulances, also to be in use for many years to come. Turkish government also provided additional medical equipment in May, followed by the Turkish Red Crescent which also donated 1.5 tonnes of medical supplies to Albanian Red Cross. As Prime Minister Rama said, Turkey will always stand by Albania in times of need.
– Mr. Ambassador, the EU has already made a decision to open accession talks with Albania. In the meantime Turkey has been a candidate country of the EU since 1999 and started the accession negotiations in 2005. Could you please tell us a few words on the current status of this relationship?
-We have always supported the Euro-Atlantic integration of Albania and the rest of the Balkan countries. We wish Albania a successful negotiation process and hope to see Albania as a full member of the EU as early as possible.
The European Union is a peace and welfare project and a body of common values. Turkey is ready to make any contribution for the EU to become a consistent, responsible and principled global actor. Turkey is one of the leading international players being ready to cooperate with the EU to overcome the existing challenges. In these difficult days, if Turkey were a member of the EU, the Union would have been much stronger not only against the C19 pandemic but against any other regional or global threats. A full member Turkey to the EU will add a significant value to the strength of the EU in economic, political and military fields.
We expect the EU to adopt a rational policy that goes beyond the narrow national perspectives of some Member States and reflects the Union’s global responsibilities as well as the EU’s motto of “unity in diversity”. We are hopeful that the common sense will prevail within the EU to redesign a balanced, equal and fair approach towards Turkey.
.
