US on Turkey: "Anti-American Rhetoric ... Not Helpful"

Washington, 07 Dzulqa’dah 1437/10 August 2016 (MINA) – The Obama Administration Tuesday said the “anti-American rhetoric” coming from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is “not helpful” for relations between the two countries.

Ties have been strained over disagreements on Syria, Kurdish forces, and especially after the July 15 attempted coup, which Erdogan blames the US-based cleric – and his one-time ally – Fethullah Gulen for orchestrating.

Turkey has issued a request for Gulen’s extradition, but the US has yet to respond.

“This is a legal, technical process, you know, governed by the 1981 extradition treaty signed by both of our countries,” State Department Spokesperson Elizabeth Trudeau was quoted by KUNA as telling reporters.

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“We’re directly in touch with Turkish authorities on this process.” The US, however, remains “concerned” about suggestions by Turkey that they helped instigate the coup, she said.

“We expect, you know, all parties – media, civil society, the Turkish government – to be responsible in their statements on this. We believe our relations and our partnership and our friendship with Turkey is strong,” Trudeau affirmed.

“Conspiracy theories get us nowhere,” she added. (T/R07/R01)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)