FETO leader's US extradition talks can start in Feb.

By Baris Seckin

ROME (AA) – A prominent Turkish deputy said Thursday that as of next February, with the new Trump administration in place, Turkey can discuss the extradition of terrorist leader Fetullah Gulen from the U.S.

Speaking to Anadolu Agency correspondent in Rome, Taha Ozhan, the head of parliament’s External Affairs Commission, stated that while Turkey should continue to voice its expectations about Gulen's extradition for now, discussions can begin in earnest after around Jan. 20, when President-elect Donald Trump is inaugurated.

About Trump’s surprise win, Ozhan said, "Electing the U.S. president is an important event for Turkish-U.S. relations as well."

He added, "Talks on this issue [extradition] can be done once it’s February. At this stage this expectation has to be voiced but the U.S. government transition has to go through. Because Trump is [now] president-elect. After Trump assumes his duties, this file [on Gulen] should certainly be sent to him".

Led by U.S.-based Fetullah Gulen, the Fethullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) is accused of orchestrating Turkey’s July 15 coup plot as well as being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police, and judiciary.

The July 15 defeated coup left 246 people martyred and some 2,194 injured.

- ‘No progress in EU talks in 50 years’

Separately, Ozhan criticized European Parliament Turkey Rapporteur Kati Piri's Wednesday comments saying, "Our only answer is to freeze ties with Turkey."

He called her approach “interesting,” arguing that Turkey's EU process has not made progress for more than a half-century.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan Wednesday called on the EU to make a final decision on Turkey’s accession to the union.

Speaking ahead of the annual EU Progress Report on Turkey, Erdogan said: “They shamelessly say that Turkey’s EU negotiations should be reviewed. You are late. Review it as soon as possible.

“But do not just review, make your final decision.”

Turkey applied to join the union in 1987 and negotiations began in 2005. As part of a deal agreed in March to stem the tide of refugees to Europe, Turkey was promised a relaxation of travel restrictions for its nationals and an acceleration of its membership application.

- Misplaced attention

Ozhan also accused the EU of paying little attention to important issues such as the July 15 bloody coup attempt in Turkey, the death of at least 600,000 Syrians in region, the coup in Egypt, and the refugee crisis, while paying great attention to last week’s arrests of deputies in Turkey.

Since last Friday, a total of 10 Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) lawmakers, including Co-Chairs Selahattin Demirtas and Figen Yuksekdag, have been remanded in custody for failing to answer public prosecutors’ summons concerning an ongoing counter-terrorism probe.

The HDP, on Sunday, announced the suspension of its parliamentary activities following the arrests.

The government has accused the HDP of links to the PKK, which is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S., and EU.