UPDATE 2 - Turkey's President Erdogan inaugurates July 15 Democracy Museum

UPDATES WITH PRESIDENT RECEP TAYYIP ERDOGAN’S COMMENTS DELIVERED WHILE ADDRESSING TURKISH NATION

By Mumin Altas, Dilan Pamuk and Ali Murat Alhas

ANKARA (AA) - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan inaugurated a museum dedicated to democracy on Thursday – on the fifth anniversary of the 2016 defeated coup when Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) attempted to seize power by force.

Located across the presidential complex in the capital of Ankara, the July 15 Democracy Museum is to remind visitors of the spirit of unity of Turks that foiled the coup attempt, while also telling the insidious intentions of the FETO terror group.

Erdogan toured the museum with a group of high-level political leaders including parliament speaker Mustafa Sentop, Vice President Fuat Oktay and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli. Relatives of those who lost their lives on the night of the coup, and veterans were also present.

After the inauguration, Erdogan at a commemorative event at the Presidential Complex said Turkey will continue to be on the alert against all terrorist organizations, FETO in particular.

“Come what may, our struggle will continue until the last member of FETO is ‘neutralized’, punished, and erased from records,” he said.

Turkish authorities use the word “neutralize” to imply the terrorists in question surrendered or were killed or captured.

Separately, addressing the nation in a televised broadcast, President Erdogan said terror groups and those behind them can never realize their agenda as Turks would not spare them as demonstrated on the night of July 15, 2016, he added.

The Turkish leader said that those who posed threats to Turkey through terrorism unwittingly strengthened the national unity and harmony, and cannot slow its development.

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.

July 15 is now marked as Democracy and National Unity Day in Turkey, a national holiday. Commemorative events are held across the country.