Everything for the extradition of the FETO leader done, PM Yıldırım says

The U.S. and Turkey resuming visa processes on a "limited basis" is a positive development, Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım said Tuesday, while he denied giving assurances to embassy staff in the country, saying that it contradicts the principle of the rule of law.

On the eve of a trip to Washington, Turkey's prime minister on Tuesday called on the U.S. judiciary to take immediate steps to extradite the leader of the terrorist group behind last year's defeated coup.

Referring to the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), Binali Yıldırım told reporters at Ankara's Esenboğa Airport: "Everything for the extradition of the FETO leader has been done. The piles of files can't fit in rooms anymore.

"If this many files and documents aren't enough, there must be something else involved in this issue. So the judiciary in the U.S. should take immediate legal action and do what's necessary."

Amid mounting tensions after a U.S./Turkey visa row and accusations from both sides, Yıldırım went on to say some legal actions and arrests had taken place in both countries.

"The legal process is underway in line with the principles of the state of law in both countries", he added.

The Turkish premier also said talks to request guarantees were not necessary, as both countries operated under the rule of law.
Yıldırım 's trip comes amid signs of improving Turkish-U.S. relations. Both countries on Monday partially restored visa services after a nearly month-long row over Turkish staffers of a U.S. mission arrested for alleged FETO ties.

He noted that while improving ties, Turkish officials will preserve sensitivities of the country and the people, and hoped that U.S. officials respect that.

The prime minister denied embassy statement claiming that Turkey gave assurances for staff, saying that Turkey is a state governed by the rule of law and negotiation of such requests would violate those principles.

He noted that all processes are conducted under the rule of law and no exceptions will be made for anyone.

Yıldırım highlighted that there are Turkish nationals detained in the U.S. and vice versa, and hoped that the U.S. pays attention to Turkey's concerns during their prosecution.

"Likewise, they make similar demands and these are discussed through diplomatic channels" Yıldırım said, adding that they hope to reach a final resolution.

The U.S. Embassy suspended the visa services at its diplomatic missions in Turkey in early October following the arrest of Metin Topuz, a longstanding U.S. consulate employee and a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agent at the Istanbul Bureau, over ties with the Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ).

Topuz has been linked to a number of FETÖ suspects, including police commissioners and former prosecutor Zekeriya Öz, a fugitive accused of attempting to overthrow the government through the use of force, according to a judicial source who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

Following the arrest, the U.S. Embassy in Ankara said all non-immigrant visa services in its diplomatic facilities in Turkey were suspended. Turkey responded to the U.S. move by saying it had halted processing visa applications from the U.S. The pause, announced online by the Turkish embassy in Washington, applies to visas in passports, electronic visas and visas at the borders, and was also effective immediately.

Yıldırım will be meeting with U.S. Vice President Mike Pence and his visit is expected to focus on talks regarding Gülen's extradition to Turkey.

FETO and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup of July 15, 2016 that martyred 250 people and injured nearly 2,200 others.

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.

Turkey has long accused the U.S. of dragging its feet on Gulen's extradition, saying it has requested his return with more-than-sufficient evidence of his guilt.