ANKARA (News Desk) – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has discussed the issue of extradition of Fetullah Gulen with President Obama in their first telephonic contact after failed coup attempt in Turkey.
During the conversation, Erdogan told Obama that proper punishment would be given to those responsible within the framework of justice and the rule of law.
President Obama made clear to President Erdogan that Washington does not support terrorists, individuals who conspired to overthrow ‘a democratically elected government’ in Turkey. He also offered help for an investigation into the last week’s failed coup.
The Turkish presidential press centre said President Obama told Erdogan that the United States is ready to cooperate with Turkish institutions investigating the coup attempt.
Earlier on Monday, US Secretary of State John Kerry and EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, in a joint statement in Brussels, said that Friday’s attempted putsch was “no excuse” for excessive action, as Turkish authorities said they had arrested over 7,500 people and sacked more than 9,000.
They sternly warned Turkey to respect the rule of law after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government launched a massive crackdown following the failed coup, adding that any move by Turkey to reinstate the death penalty for the coup plotters would derail Ankara’s long-stalled membership bid.
President Erdogan had blamed Turkish cleric Fetullah Gulen, who lives in exile in the United States, for Friday night’s failed coup. However, Gullen, in a response, rejected the allegation calling the coup a staged action of Erdogan.
Ankara has called on Washington to hand over exiled Gulen to Turkish authorities for an investigation into the failed coup, but John Kerry on Monday said that Ankara must produce proofs for such a development.
