Turkey insists Tirana hand over hundreds of gylenists

Speaking at a press conference in Tirana, Cavusoglu said he had requested their surrender not only to Cakaj, but also to Prime Minister Edi Rama, who was also referred to as “my brother, Edi”.

“FETO is a threat not only to Turkey but also to its countries. FETO is controlled by the secret services of several countries. We want their return to Turkey. We have explained to our Albanian brothers the danger this organization poses. We have also warned Prime Minister Rama, but Gentin as well as the threat to FETO for Albania”, Turkish Foreign Minister said, remembering that Ankara is one of the biggest investors in Albania, especially in the field of education.

The co-operation has increased even more after the University of New York opened from Marif University. We expect and support and contribution from the Albanian side. In the field of education we will continue to assist Albania”, Cavusoglu stressed

He also announced that President Erdogan will soon visit Albania, within the framework of strengthening bilateral co-operation. Cavusoglu said Albania has taken several steps “for the exception of FETO members and demanded that “proceed before”.

There are no numbers of how many FETO members there are in Albania, but there are hundreds. We wanted their return. Albania has taken several steps, we expect to proceed with them. We do not want FETO members to stay in Albania, I explained to my brother Gent and will also explain to Prime Minister Rama that FETO poses a national security risk to”, he said.

Cavusoglu's visit comes just weeks after Albania expelled a Turkish teacher who had sought political asylum in our country -- a news that caused a major diplomatic scandal.

The Albanian government has denied it, but Turkish media report that the Turkish intelligence agency, MlT was directly involved in the extradition of a Turkish national accused of backing Turkish cleric Fetullah Gulen on January 1st.

Along with him was his friend, Salaam Simsek. The latter is in prison, but is allegedly seeking political asylum in Albania, following the same procedure as his deported friend in Turkey.

Teacher Aaron Celik was arrested in Albania in July 2019 when he tried to travel from Kazakhstan to Canada via Tirana with false documents.

Turkish media have named Celik's expulsion as a successful “operation” conducted by MlT, but Albania insists everything was done in line with normal procedures.

The Albanian government has also denied that Celik's forced return to Turkey was a product of the close relationship between Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama and Turkey's President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, writes Lapsi.