Turkey to host Interpol’s 89th General Assembly in November

By Emin Avundukluoglu

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey will host the 89th General Assembly of Interpol on Nov. 20-25 in Istanbul, the country's deputy foreign minister said on Thursday.

"By hosting Interpol's 89th General Assembly Meeting, we will once again confirm our will to manage our relations with the agency with a constructive approach. We will convey our approach in the fight against terrorism at the highest level," Yavuz Selim Kiran told Anadolu Agency.

Kiran noted that Turkey was the founding member of 194-member Interpol.

He said that the general assembly is the highest authorized organ of the agency which is attended by top police officers from all countries.

Kiran noted that Turkey's hosting of the assembly "will contribute to our international visibility in the fight against global terrorism and cross-border crime."

"Unfortunately, our relations with Interpol are not at the desired level due to the hesitant attitude of the agency in cooperation with our country after the treacherous coup attempt on July 15," he added.

The Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) and its US-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup of July 15, 2016, in which 251 people were killed and 2,734 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.