Turkey to remove FETÖ presence from Balkans, Erdoğan says
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan speaks at the graduation ceremony of the Defense Ministry's cadet school in Istanbul, Turkey, Aug. 31, 2021. (DHA Photo)


Turkey will wipe off Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ) presence in the Balkans, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Wednesday.

In a video message for the inauguration ceremony of Turkey’s Consulate General in the Serbian city of Novi Pazar, Erdoğan said Turkey would destroy FETÖ elements in Serbia and the Balkans, as he thanked Serbia for being one of the first country’s to support Turkey’s struggle against the coup attempt.

The president also hailed the opening of the new consulate general, saying that it will greatly contribute to Turkey-Serbia relations and facilitate the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency’s (TIKA) development projects in the country.

Turkey has warned of fugitive FETÖ members fleeing to other countries, including in the Balkans, and threatening security there.

Following the July 15 coup attempt, Turkey requested countries to take action against the terrorist group's network.

FETÖ and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gülen orchestrated the defeated coup of July 15, 2016, which left 251 people dead and 2,734 injured.

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