Deputy Prime Minister Yıldırım Tuğrul Türkeş informed the representatives of Turkish community on FETO's heinous coup attempt on July 15^th in London Yunus Emre Enstitüsü.

Also a member of Yunus Emre Foundation Board of Trustees our Enstitü operates under, Deputy Prime Minister Yıldırım Tuğrul Türkeş convened with the representatives of Turkish community in London Yunus Emre Enstitüsü. Tuğrul Türkeş explaining the coup attempt by FETO, stressed that had the coup attempt been successful, Turkey would have wasted 96 years of democratic background.

Deputy Prime Minister Tuğrul Türkeş stated that his “Do not let it turn into a witch hunt” comment regarding operations targeting Fethullah Gulen Terrorist Organisation (FETO) was twisted and he said “Who says that? Deputy Prime Minister. Is it possible for me to utter that outside government's knowledge? This means it is a warning intended for officials who carry out operations, for security forces and judiciary officials.” 

Deputy Prime Minister Türkeş made a speech in the meeting held with the representatives of non-governmental organisations in London Yunus Emre Enstitüsü, and marked that the direst coup attempt took place in Turkey on July 15^th.

Expressing that it is not sound to underestimate the coup attempt due to its failure or make speculations regarding the subject, Türkeş continued as follows:

“Unfortunately there had been casualties in previous coups although it was not desired but this time this savage team killed people without any reason from the onset and their plan was to suppress people by terrorising them and eventually take over the government right from the start. Turkish President was a target as well; he could have been killed with his whole family God forbid. They attacked our Prime Minister as well; his car was shot at but he escaped. They created this havoc and expected everyone to surrender after these images and an empty statement were released; they thought people would submit feeling that 'they will suffer worse.'”

“It is not self-criticism”

Yıldırım Tuğrul Türkeş defined the organisation behind the coup attempt as a group who aspire for a dictatorial regime based on a twisted religious understanding.

Addressing that the operations targeting FETO are within the boundaries of law, Türkeş underlined that some media organs twisted his words.

Türkeş expressed that some media organs' old sickness rapidly relapsed, and spoke as follows:

“After July 15^th, we had a honeymoon with the press and opposition parties so to speak, and we were pleased. We said 'This means that all act well, rationally and with common sense when the country faces a hardship.' We thanked the press again and again. We thanked opposition parties for all their praiseworthy efforts. Later I gave a statement to a TV channel... Two of them tried to twist my words and manipulate my message. I said 'Do not let it turn into a witch hunt. Who says this? Deputy Prime Minister. Is it possible for me to utter that outside government's knowledge? This means it is a warning intended for officials who carry out operations, for security forces and judicial officials. A fool says 'Türkeş Lashed Out at the Government.' He must have thought that I am a member of the former party. He does not know what he is saying. I am astonished as to how this newspaper published this nonsensical caption and for no good reason. I warn as the Deputy Prime Minister. Whom? The members of judiciary system and security forces on the task. For them to properly evaluate, analyse and take due action if there is reliable intelligence. This was what the warning was about. It was not self-criticism.”

The claim that foreign countries orchestrated the coup attempt

Deputy Prime Minister stated that it is possible for a foreign country to orchestrate the coup attempt however there was no information indicating that.

Marking that there are two sides of everything that happens, Türkeş added the following: “Had this coup attempt not failed, heroes would have emerged. Even some individuals on the political scene said 'We told you so, things must change, it was for the good etc.'. We have experience from previous coups. When it fails, everyone feels entitled to comment on it. When it fails, we hear people saying 'If the giant states were behind it, it would not have failed.'”

Türkeş emphasized that he did not claim there was another country behind the coup attempt, and requested for his words not to be twisted.

“They might be incapable but they exist”

Türkeş expressed that some big, powerful states interfere with a country saying, “Children die there, they cannot find medicine, so let us topple the dictator and bring prosperity, peace and democracy so that the children will die from sickness no more ,” and they kill 1,5 million people in 12 years and break the country into 3-5. Türkeş continued as follows:

“So there is no such thing as a big, powerful state achieving every desire. They might be incapable but they exist. It does not mean they were behind this; we have no knowledge indicating that. What do we witness? A community comprised of followers of Fethullah Gülen in Pennsylvania U.S.A. with bandits and killers in the army dressed as soldiers made an attempt to take over the government. Are they alone? No. I think there might be other organisations involved”.

“Conversations of 30 thousand people were located”

Türkeş stressed that had the coup not failed, Turkey would have wasted 96 years of democratic background.

Türkeş expressed that a lot of negative comments are made on Turkey amidst this tumult however Turkish democracy cannot be properly comprehended or appreciated, and said, “We must see and appreciate what we have. What would we lose? We would lose all. A 100 years of background, experience. The established law and relations...”

Tuğrul Türkeş marked that Turkey achieved to maintain multiple international relations contrary to the bipolar global habits.

Türkeş mentioned that Turkey successfully maintained these multiple relations throughout a period of 20-24 years which began with dissolution of Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) and stated the following: “West panics at times. We meet with China and they fear that the 'axis has shifted'. Nothing is shifted; the brakes are strong, brake linings are strong however it is our obligation to evaluate different alternatives for Turkey's benefit and this is what we do.”

Türkeş shared the following regarding the criticism on the number of people detained in operations targeting FETO:

“What to do if the evidence points to that many people? Do you have the chance to say 'I will carry this out with less people'? When you monitor the conversations of the so-called senior staff in a single circle, you come up with 25-30 thousand names. No one makes a decision after their hearts saying 'there was this person here and that person there'. We have located conversations between nearly 30 thousand people. You must pick them out so they will behave. We have to investigate them and if they are innocent and were not involved in crime, they will be released. Those who were involved will stand trial and serve right. The number being low or high means nothing.”

Cyprus Negotiations

Deputy Prime Minister Türkeş addressed the issue of ongoing negotiations on Cyprus in response to a question.

Türkeş said that the negotiations held with the President of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Mustafa Akıncı and Greek leader Nikos Anastasiadis progress well and said, “Of course there are good and bad aspects of international dialogues. You discuss the matters you agree on first, and the most difficult issues the latest. It feels like things change for the better however a tension emerges because 'talks fail'.”

Türkeş addressed property and security issues as the most difficult topics in Cyprus negotiations however the discussions on the two topics will be commenced.

Türkeş also marked that Akıncı, as a guarantor, aims to comprehend Turkey's stand and opinion and efforts are given in this context. Türkeş explained the following:

“Ownership is an utterly technical subject. The Greeks' attitude is beyond understanding. They say 'We will give nothing but hand us the properties there. If you cannot, pay for them.' Are there no Turks below this line? Are not there any rights, lands, properties which once belonged to Turks? According to Greeks there are none. They have an unserious approach. We warn them about this and they ignore. We continue to act in good faith as the Republic of Turkey. We wish for Cypriot government to come to terms with Greek administration, for the Cypriot Turks to be free of isolation as they deserve and support them in freely opening to the world.”

“England gave a good account of itself”

Türkeş responded to the question regarding “the extent of trust Turkish officials have in England's sincerity in the battle against FETO and PKK” as follows: “England has given a good account of itself. If we must compare England with the other European countries, England is nothing like Belgium. No similarities. They are as different as day and night. England has its own tradition in this sense. It closely follows the issues within this tradition.”

“The relations with Russia are multiple relations”

Türkeş responded to the question on how Turkey-Russia convergence will effect Turkey's policy concerning Crimean Tartars, as follows: “We will continue not to recognise the unjustified occupation in Crimea. Relations with Russia are multiple relations.”

Türkeş pointed out that the Crimean issue rose as West provoked Ukraine however Tartars have been completely innocent and there is a minor Tartar population in Crimea which affected the outcome of the referendum in the country.

Türkeş marked that Crimean Tartars currently return to Crimea however they are outnumbered and he added the following: “In this stage, what has priority is not the conflict but living, surviving, and earning a livelihood there. Crimean Tartars must maintain their families, their lives and education. Turkey supports this and we will provide better support when we are on good terms with Russia. It will not be worse, only better.”

Türkeş responded to the question regarding the potential effects of improved Turkey-Russia relations on Syria, as follows: “We initially did not have a conflict with Russia in Syria. It was a tension that emerged in a later phase when numerous actors entered the game. Syrian issue will not be resolved even if we come to terms with Russia.”