Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Friday called on Berlin to extradite the hundreds of FETO-linked fugitives residing in Germany.
Erdoğan made the comment at a joint news conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Erdoğan arrived in Germany on Thursday for a three-day visit. He is eager to improve ties with Europe's biggest economy and secure investments to shore up a struggling economy at home.
"With mutual trust, we must catch (suspects) and hand them over," Erdoğan said. "This is important from a security point of view for the peace and welfare of our countries."
Erdoğan also called on Germany to show respect to Turkey's judicial system, in reference to German criticism of arrests in Turkey of German citizens on terror-related charges.
He also urged Germany to designate the network of Gulen as a terrorist organisation.
FETO and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the failed coup of July 15, 2016, which left 251 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.
Erdoğan said extradition of criminals was highly significant for safety, peace of Turkey and Germany.
"Turkey and Germany have taken responsibility during the acute period of the migrant crisis, and eased the process by devoting serious sacrifice," he added.
Regarding visa liberalization process, Erdogan said Turkey plans to fulfill the remaining six criteria "as soon as possible."
"Turkey is taking on serious responsibilities on regional issues, particularly Syria crisis," Erdogan said.
"TURKEY CAN FEND OFF ECONOMIC PROBLEMS"
President Erdoğan has said that his country is able to shake off its economic troubles.
"Our country is prepared for and has the strength to avert possible threats in the field of economy," Erdoğan said at a joint press conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin.
Turkey's economy has been hit by the rapid devaluation of the national currency, the lira.
ERDOĞAN SAYS CAN DÜNDAR IS AN "AGENT"
Erdoğan on Friday recalled an extradition agreement between Turkey and Germany and called fugitive Can Dündar "a convict, spy."
"Currently, this individual [Dündar] is convicted by Turkish courts of being a spy and disclosing state secrets," said Erdoğan in a joint news conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Erdoğan also said that it is Turkey's basic right to seek the extradition of Dündar, who has been sentenced to prison for five years and 10 months, in line with extradition agreement with Germany.
In May, 2016, the 14th High Criminal Court in Istanbul had convicted Dündar, the former editor-in-chief of Cumhuriyet daily, and Erdem Gül following the publication of images purporting to show arms being transported to Syria in trucks belonging to Turkey's National Intelligence Organization, also known as the MIT.
The two defendants were arrested late November 2015 and held in prison until Feb. 26, 2016 when Turkey's Constitutional Court ruled that their rights had been violated and ordered their release.
