Biden calls on Turkey to be patient in Gulen case

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden visited Ankara on Wednesday in a bid to fix an alliance frayed by the attempted military coup in Turkey in July and tensions over efforts to combat the Islamic State.

The vice president spoke of “unwavering support” for Turkey.

He also toured the parliament building that was bombed twice during the failed coup attempt July 15.

Turkey’s admission that it hasn’t sent evidence about Gulen’s activities related to the coup may have been prompted by an op-ed written by Biden in Turkey’s Milliyet newspaper on Wednesday.

Earlier, after meeting with Prime Minister Prime Minister Binali Yildirim, Biden said Washington put “paramount importance” on its relations with Turkey.

The United States-led coalition provided air support for the Turkish and Syrian forces on the ground in Jarablus.

On July 15 evening, Turkish authorities said a military coup attempt took place in the country. “But the agreement between the United States and Turkey requires the detention of such people”.

He also expressed astonishment at speculation inside Turkey that the United States wanted to protect Gulen. Biden said he has received the assurance of top YPG commanders that this will be the case. Erdogan sat next to him, stone-faced.

Biden sought to dispel any notion of USA complicity in the uprising, calling those who carried out the attack “cowardly, treasonous”.

USA officials have never indicated that Gulen might be extradited for actions he carried out before the coup.

Biden arrived from Latvia and is leaving the same day for Sweden.

Asked about the extradition case of Fetullah Gulen, the US -based head of the Fetullah Terrorist Organization said to be behind the defeated coup, Biden said that he understood the anger of Turkey against Gulen, but the decision was up to USA courts. Biden said: “We have no reason to shelter someone who would attack an ally and try to overthrow a democracy”. The Turkish government blames a self-exiled cleric living in Pennsylvania, Fethullah Gulen, for inciting the coup and has demanded his extradition. The Obama administration says it must follow an established judicial process and that the final decision will be up to an independent US court.

“Fighting terrorism can not be undertaken by ousting [IS].and replacing it with other terrorist organizations directly backed by Turkey”, the Syrian government said in a statement.

The US insists it needs firm evidence before it can arrest Fethallah Gulen, let alone extradite him.

“The Constitution and our laws require for someone to be extradited that a court of the United States has to conclude there’s probable cause to extradite”, Biden said, explaining that the judicial branch is co-equal with Congress and the president. “Only a federal court can do that”.

“Having technical team from the US on the ground is a clear sign from your side that you’re taking this seriously and attaching great importance to it”, Yıldırım told Biden.

“We have no, no, no, no interest whatsoever in protecting anyone who has done harm to an ally. We will continue to abide by the system and, God willing, there will be enough data and evidence to be able to meet the criteria that you all believe exist”, Biden said.