Kosovo premier wants 'best possible' ties with Turkey

By Talha Ozturk

SARAJEVO, Bosnia and Herzegovina (AA) - Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj on Friday said his country wants the "best possible" partnership with Turkey following the arrest of Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) members.

Haradinaj remarks came during a session of the country’s assembly that discussed Turkey’s National Intelligence Organization (MIT) operation on Thursday to arrest six senior FETO members in Kosovo.

He told the assembly that he learned about the arrests from the media and third parties despite the fact that he is the country’s prime minister.

"The Republic of Kosovo respects the Republic of Turkey. This country, since the beginning of our independence, has recognized Kosovo. It supported our international plans. Also, millions of Albanians who are from Kosovo are living in Turkey. We want the best possible partnership with Turkey," he said.

He added that he urged Interior Minister Flamur Sefaj and President of Kosovo Intelligence Agency Driton Gashi to resign following the arrests of FETO members without his approval or knowledge.

Deputy chairman of the Assembly of Kosovo and the Deputy of Kosovo Democratic Turkish Party (KDTP), Mufera Sinik, said Kosovo and Turkey had jointly conducted the operation to nab the FETO members.

"These people are members of an organization that could threaten not only Turkey but also Kosovo," he said.

Sinik also added that relations between the two friendly countries would continue in the best way possible.

Turkish intelligence officers on Thursday brought six senior FETO members back to Turkey following operations against the terror group’s branch in the Balkans, according to security sources.

In cooperation with Kosovo intelligence, Turkey’s National Intelligence Organization (MIT) arrested the six men, who were said to be in charge of getting FETO members out of Turkey to go to Europe and the U.S., alongside their activities in the Balkans.

The group, brought back to Turkey by a private plane, is made up of Cihan Ozkan, Kahraman Demirez, Hasan Huseyin Gunakan, Mustafa Erdem, Osman Karakaya, and Yusuf Karabina, all wanted in Turkey as FETO fugitives.

Once in Turkey, the alleged FETO members were handed over to the judiciary.