Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 24
By Rufiz Hafizoglu – Trend:
The military coup attempt was directed against democracy in Turkey, said the US Vice President Joe Biden.
Biden made the remarks Aug. 24 during a joint press conference with Turkey’s Prime Minister Binali Yildirim, TRT Haber news channel reported.
The vice president said that the US, as before, sees Turkey as its main ally in the region.
The US is ready to provide any support to Turkey, he added.
The US is delighted with the Turkish people, who supported democracy, noted the vice president.
The US didn’t know that a military coup attempt was prepared in Turkey, he added.
Speaking about Fethullah Gulen, whom Turkey wants extradited from the US, Biden said that that the US is not going to defend the Fethullah Gulen movement, but there is a law in the country and everyone respects the law, he noted adding that Gulen’s extradition may be delayed.
Previously, Turkish authorities sent two requests to the US for extradition of Fethullah Gulen, who is accused of organizing the July 15 coup attempt in Turkey. An Istanbul court ordered on Aug. 4 to arrest Fethullah Gulen.
On July 15 evening, Turkish authorities said a military coup attempt took place in the country. Meanwhile, a group of servicemen announced about transition of power to them.
However, the rebelling servicemen started to surrender July 16 and Turkish authorities said the coup attempt failed.
Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had said the death toll as a result of the military coup attempt stood at 246 people, excluding the coup plotters, and over 2,000 people were wounded.
Erdogan declared a three-month state of emergency in Turkey on July 20.
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