John Kerry Expected to Visit Turkey in August

A handout picture provided by the Turkish Presidental press office shows U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry (R) and Turkey`s new President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (L) during their meeting in Ankara, Turkey 12 September 2014. EPA/BGNES

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is expected to visit Turkey by the end of the month, Turkish daily Hurriyet has reported.

“During Kerry’s visit, the Turkish authorities are expected to express the country’s sensitivities on the issue of the failed coup attempt and reassert its demand for the extradition of Fethullah Gulen, the U.S.-based Islamic scholar believed to have orchestrated the coup attempt”, Hurriyet said, citing a news report of CNN Turk on Thursday.

Tensions have built up in Ankara’s relationship with Washington since the failed coup attempt in Turkey on July 15 which Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan blames on Gulen. The cleric has denied involvement in the coup attempt.

Turkey has sent a formal request for the extradition of Gulen. The U.S. State Department said that the Justice Department was reviewing the request.

John Kerry said last month that Turkey should avoid "public insinuations" about U.S. involvement in the abortive coup attempt. His comment followed allegations made by Turkish Labour Minister Faruk Celik that the U.S. government had been behind the coup.

 

 

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