SL must remain vigilant on FETO - Turkish Envoy Demet Sekercioglu

• Turkey sharing information with Sri Lanka on terror group
• FETÖ elements active in some countries
• World must respect choice of Turkish nation
• Turkey willing to explore more opportunities with Sri Lanka

Turkey has urged Sri Lanka to remain vigilant on the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), which was accused of being involved in the 2016 failed coup attempt in Turkey. As Turkey celebrates its Republic Day this month, the Daily Mirror spoke to Turkish Ambassador in Colombo R. Demet Sekercioglu on a wide range of matters including on the threat posed by FETO. The excerpts:

   Q   As Turkey celebrates its Republic Day this month how do you see the bilateral relationship between Turkey and Sri Lanka? 

The Republic of Turkey was proclaimed 98 years ago, on October 29, 1923. But our bilateral relations with the Island nation go way back to that date. The two countries laid the foundation of their relations more than 150 years ago, when Hassan Lebbe Marikar was nominated as the Honorary Consul of the Ottoman Empire in Colombo in 1864. 

Later, Turkey was one of the first countries to recognize the then Ceylon at her independence in 1948.
Today, despite the geographic distance, we enjoy close and cordial relations with Sri Lanka. There are no issues between the two countries, that can hinder our relations. We value our relations based on friendship, mutual understanding and cooperation.    

The tsunami in the region in 2004 was a milestone. The visit of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, as the then Prime Minister to Sri Lanka in February 2005, bolstered our relations.  Many high-level visits took place and the warmth of the relations led to the opening of the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Ankara and our Embassy here in Colombo, respectively in 2012 and in 2013. 
Our national flag carrier, the Turkish Airlines began its flights to Colombo. Direct flights between countries are important both to develop commercial and people to people ties.

"Sri Lanka is famous in Turkey for the Ceylon tea. Turkish people are the first tea consumers with around 5kg of tea per person annually. Turkey is a tea producer herself; it is also the number one importer of the Sri Lankan tea."

Due to the global pandemic, almost two years since, the number of interactions between our countries were on the wane. However, in June this year, we had the Second Session of the virtual Turkey-Sri Lanka Joint Economic Commission Meeting and discussed ways to enhance our economic and trade relations.  In August, Defence Secretary General Kamal Gunaratne visited Turkey on the occasion of the 15th International Defence Industries Fair and met the Turkish officials, including National Defence Minister Hulusi Akar.  Our Ministers of Foreign Affairs met on the sideliners of the 76th UN General Assembly in New York and exchanged views on our bilateral relations and issues of common interest.  

Earlier this year, the Sri Lanka-Turkey Friendship Association was convened in the new Sri Lankan Parliament. The Turkey-Sri Lanka Friendship Group in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey has already been established after the elections held in 2018. Turkish parliamentarians are keen to further develop relations between the two institutions. 
All those are welcome developments. We are steadily preparing for the post-pandemic period where we hope high-level visits will resume and our business communities will be able to meet face to face. 

   Q   This year also marked five years since the failed coup against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Has the country now fully recovered from that unpleasant events of July 2016? 

It is a truth that one of the main targets on the night of July 15, 2016 was President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. But the coup plotters also bombed from the air the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, the symbol of the national sovereignty, 
the Presidential Complex, the buildings of the National Police and National Intelligence Organization, as well as the Police Special Operations Centre which is the crucial counter-terrorism operational body of Turkey. 

   Q   Their aim was to create chaos in the country to get democratic institutions surrender. How can you best create chaos other than by eliminating the Head of State?

Actually, the ultimate goal of the coup attempt was to dismantle and destroy the democratic foundations of the Republic and to establish a new state under the absolute rule of Fetullah Gülen. Gülen is considered as the “Imam of the Universe” by his followers. He is the ringleader of the clandestine, criminal and terrorist organisation called FETÖ. FETÖ, which established itself in the 1970`s as a charitable education institution, gradually turned into a secretive operational structure, aiming to transform Turkish society from within. The Turkish nation has paid a heavy price to protect its  democracy. FETÖ terrorists killed 251 innocent civilians and wounded thousands on that fateful night. Since then, we have made great efforts to completely eradicate FETÖ’s presence inside and outside Turkey. Following intensive operations, we were able to bring FETO elements before justice. 

FETO has now lost its controlling power in Turkey. However, some FETÖ elements fled the country and the terrorist organisation is now striving to survive in some countries where it had established its presence. Due to its broad international network, FETO essentially poses beyond a national threat. Considering its secretive and unique structure, it could cause immeasurable danger to all countries where it remains active.

   Q   President Erdogan has been accused of committing grave human rights abuses in the crackdown on those allegedly involved or linked to the coup. Has the President lost the support of key world leaders in recent times? 

Turkey has a democratic, secular and social state of law. Those who tried to assassinate the democratically-elected President, killed 251 innocent civilians and wounded thousands have been identified and brought before justice. 

They have been tried and convicted on the bases of rule of law and fundamental rights and freedom. Several processes are still underway. There is a great number of factual evidence: video footages, digital materials, satellite communications and confessions proved that FETÖ was instrumental in that aborted coup and that Fetullah Gülen was the mastermind.  Things are as clear as that.

"Today, despite the geographic distance, we enjoy close and cordial relations with Sri Lanka. There are no issues between the two countries, that can hinder our relations. We value our relations based on friendship, mutual understanding and cooperation"

What is disturbing on the other hand, is that those who pretend upholding democracy and human rights, did not condemn this heinous attack against Turkey’s democracy or reacted too late and too weak. No country and no leader had the obligation to appreciate President Erdoğan or to agree with his policies; but there is a moral obligation to respect the choice of the Turkish nation. 

If the Turkish people are not pleased with the policies adopted by the President or the government, then they will express their choice during the next elections. 
However, whitewashing the criminal activities of FETÖ and its affiliates, offering shelter to those who are responsible for the killing of hundreds are inacceptable. So if we are to talk about human rights, what about the living rights of hundreds of families who were massacred on that fateful night, the rights of children who lost their parents, the rights of the journalists, academics, bureaucrats and military officers who were lynched, purged and imprisoned by FETÖ members for opposing the criminal organisation. 

It is also very disturbing that those who are trying to give us lessons of democracy and human rights have never rose their voice when FETO was busy eliminating its opponents, with fabricated evidences.  
If the world recognizes terrorism as a common threat, sincere cooperation should be established and measures should be taken against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations globally.  Experience has proven that no country is safe until all are safe. Unfortunately, some global powers do not seem to have learned from their past mistakes.

   Q   Do you see or FETO working with local groups in Sri Lanka? 

FETO members were present in Sri Lanka too. They were running a school, a chamber of commerce, a cultural foundation and various other businesses. As their aim and modus operandi is the same all around the world, it was our duty to inform our Sri Lankan friends regarding the threat that FETO represented for the island. Since the very first day, we have informed all relevant Sri Lankan authorities the ways this terrorist organization is operating and provided all details of FETO affiliated entities and individuals in the island. 

We are pleased to note that our intensive efforts have eventually yielded success. The school was sold out to a Sri Lankan businessman, the chamber of commerce and the cultural foundation were also closed.  We were informed that FETÖ elements residing in Sri Lanka have left the country. 

We deeply appreciate the cooperation and support extended by the Sri Lankan authorities to this end. However as I expressed earlier, FETO has lost its power in Turkey and in a number of friendly countries where the schools and diverse entities they were running were closed. In a certain way, their living space is shrinking. So it would not be a surprise if its affiliates explore the ways to set foot in Sri Lanka again, if they feel that the attention is distracted in the future. Therefore, it is of great importance to continue to be vigilant. 

   Q   Is there intelligence sharing between Turkish and Sri Lankan agencies to identify FETO operatives in Sri Lanka? 

There is definitely information and intelligence sharing between Turkey and Sri Lanka. For the last five years, we have been in close contact and cooperating with all relevant Sri Lankan authorities to eliminate FETO’s presence in Sri Lanka.  We have provided them with all necessary information regarding FETO affiliated individuals and entities in Sri Lanka. In coordination with the local authorities, we were able to establish a mechanism to limit their mobility in the country, and eventually they have left.

We also heard from the news that appeared on the media that the Presidential Commission of Inquiry on the Easter Sunday Attacks probed the link between FETO and the Easter Sunday attacks, which took place on April 21, 2019.  There are allegations that FETO elements might have funded some of those involved in the Easter Sunday mayhem.  The truth, of course, will immerge as a result of the investigations and from the trials which began hearings on October 4, once completed. 
Q During a recent meeting in New York between your Foreign Minister and Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister, the need to expand trade ties between both countries had been noted. What specific areas do you feel Turkey and Sri Lanka can work together on? 

We should admit that people of Turkey and Sri Lanka as well as the business communities do not know much about each other and the economic potential offered by both countries for further cooperation.
Sri Lanka is famous in Turkey for the Ceylon tea. Turkish people are the first tea consumers with around 5kg of tea per person annually. Turkey is a tea producer herself; it is also the number one importer of the Sri Lankan tea. 
However, although cinnamon is a much-consumed spice in Turkish cuisine, it is striking that the quality of Sri Lankan cinnamon is not known in Turkey. Likewise, Sri Lanka has many natural minerals, which can be used in diverse industrial sectors.

Turkish public was also newly discovering Sri Lanka as a tourist destination before the pandemic. Of course, the tourism sector has heavily suffered from the pandemic, but I am confident that the sector has the ability to re-bounce once the Covid-19 will be controlled. And in this context it is actually a great opportunity that our national flag carrier, the Turkish Airlines is operating direct flights between Istanbul and Colombo. Before the pandemic, it had seven scheduled flights per week. Currently it is flying five times per week. The number of fights will certainly increase in parallel with the number of tourists visiting Sri Lanka. It is worth mentioning that during the pandemic period Turkish Airlines has played a great role in delivering Sri Lankan export goods to the world markets.
On the other hand, Turkey has made tremendous advancement in manufacturing industry, which allows the country to offer high quality and cost effective products in many sectors. Agriculture and food industry, pharmaceutical industry, energy, machinery, ICT, defence industries are some of the sectors where trade and cooperation may be developed. 

   Q   Sri Lanka’s envoy in Turkey has been calling for an increase in investments by Turkey in Sri Lanka. In what areas does Turkey see potential? 

There are already three Turkish companies operating in tea sector in Sri Lanka. 
Turkish construction companies are ranked second worldwide after Chinese constructors and are very much prized for the quality of their work. Currently a Turkish construction company is in charge of the Hemmathagama Water Supply Project. Some were interested in projects developed by various Sri Lankan authorities, but unfortunately, these projects could not materialise due to the pandemic and the dire situation it had created to the Sri Lankan economy.

However, as Sri Lanka has the will and vocation to become a trading hub in the Indian Ocean, it will have to extensively invest in developing its infrastructure once the pandemic will be controlled. These new opportunities will most probably attract more Turkish companies in the future.  
However, construction is not the only area were Turkish companies could offer their service to Sri Lanka. Actually, Sri Lanka could also make use of Turkish experience and expertise in various sectors such as solid waste management, upgrading health sector services; agro-food and dairy sector Sri Lankan authorities are very keen to develop.  

Currently Turkey is producing 53% of its electricity from renewables. Turkish energy companies are also extensively working in several countries. Given Sri Lanka’s energy policy seeking to increase the contribution of renewable sources up to 70% by 2030, Turkish companies can also contribute to this end.
It is a fact that our economic and trade relations are far below their potential. However, Turkish and Sri Lankan business people are very keen on discovering the opportunities in each other’s countries. We have been linking them online during the pandemic. We hope that visits will be able to resume soon allowing face-to-face contacts for exploring new opportunities.