FETÖ purchases property in Canada amid fears of Gülen's possible extradition


Justice Minister Bekir Bozdağ said Friday that the government has strong intelligence suggesting that members of the Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ) have purchased ranches in different locations in Canada, in the case of a possible U.S. decision to extradite FETÖ leader Fetullah Gülen, continuing by saying that he may return to the U.S. for another visit to discuss Gülen's extradition with newly elected U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions. Speaking to CNN Türk, Minister Bozdağ asserted that FETÖ members may choose to flee to Canada because the country has no extradition agreement with Turkey, addin g that FETÖ is also seeking suitable locations for exile in South Africa, Brazil and Egypt.Gülen, the mastermind of the failed July 15 coup attempt, has a long record of a controversial campaign to overthrow the Turkish government by infiltrating state institutions, the judiciary and security forces, and has lived in self-imposed exile on a 400-acre property in the foothills of the Pocono Mountains in Pennsylvania since 1999.Bozdağ drew attention to a letter that he personally sent on Thursday to U.S. counterpart Sessions, congratulating him on his appointment as attorney general and repeating requests for the extradition of Gülen. "I sent a letter that clarifies Turkey's sensitiveness on the issue of Gülen's extradition and the importance of the issue for the future of relations between Ankara and Washington," Bozdağ said. On Oct. 26 last year Minister Bozdağ traveled to the U.S. to meet with then-U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch in efforts to speed up Gülen's extradition process.However, despite the determined efforts of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Justice Minister Bozdağ, the Obama administration chose to take no action against the U.S.-based terror leader.'Political stability ensured with changes'Justice Minister Bekir Bozdağ indicated yesterday that the constitutional amendment package going to a referendum on Apr. 16 offers political stability by establishing a rapid decision process in the Turkish government to avoid obstacles experienced in the past, which arose due to conflicts between the prime minister and the president.Bozdağ explained the constitutional change at the "Constitutional Layout of Presidency System" program held by the Foundation for Political, Economic and Social Research (SETA). He stated that the two-headed executive system in Turkey prevents the political stability needed for welfare. The minister indicated that the decision-making mechanism was hindered in the past because of the conflicts between the prime minister and the president, which had negative effects on Turkey in many areas, such as politics and economics. Pointing to the Turkish leaders who have been discharged from power, he said, "We cannot leave political power alone and defenseless against terrorist groups in this geography. So the governmental system needs to change to be stronger. The illegal groups trying to deprive elected political leaders of power should be eliminated." Bozdağ also indicated that Turkey's present stability is a result of a strong leader, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and the Turkish nation's support to the Justice and Development Party (AK Party), where the current parliamentary system is not enough to protect stability in each field.Emphasizing that the constitutional amendment package has no relation to a regime change, Bozdağ pointed out that the new governmental system strengthens the essential tenets of the Turkish Republic, following the controversial remark of the "no-voters." Bozdağ said the republic regime has been dominant in Turkey and the Turkish people have used the power of election since 1923, after which he disapproved of the fact that the Turkish people can decide the legislative body with a single election and that the executive is determined by the legislative members. "This is not a system that is suitable for the spirit of the republic. The constitutional amendment ensures that the government is to be determined by the Turkish nation at the ballot box," Bozdağ added. Furthermore, he stressed that a separated election system for both legislative and executive bodies on the same day will likely provide Turkey with a strong separation of power.Regarding the changes proposed in the office of the presidency, Bozdağ said the president will need a new election for himself at the same time in case he uses the power to renew parliament. Emphasizing that the president would be subject to judicial control that would strengthen democracy, the minister underlined that the changes will bring a president who must answer to the Turkish nation.