Macedonia ‘supports’ Turkey in fight against FETO

By Cihad Aliu

BELGRADE, Serbia (AA) - Macedonia on Monday extended its support to Turkey in its fight against the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), the group behind the defeated coup of July 15, 2016.

Speaking to Anadolu Agency, Macedonia’s Minister for Foreign Investment Adnan Kahil said Turkey never withheld its support towards his country for the membership of the NATO and the European Union.

Kahil emphasized his country will fight against the FETO within the ambit of the Macedonian laws.

"We of course oppose the Fetullah Terrorist Organization, we oppose every kind of terrorist organization and terrorism. We do not support FETO's activities in Turkey in any way," the minister said.

"We will fight against FETO terrorist organization as per our constitution. As Turkey supports us in every step, we support Turkey's war against the FETO," said Kahil.

The FETO and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup attempt of July 15, 2016, which left 250 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.

Ankara also accuses FETO of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police, and judiciary.

FETO began to spread outside Turkey in the early 1990s, when it opened schools in the former Soviet republics in central Asia.