PM Yıldırım calls on Merkel to stop supporting terrorist groups

Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım has commented on Germany's attitude on terrorist organizations during German Chancellor Angela Merkel's first visit to Turkey since the July 15 coup attempt that targeted the democratically elected government.

"Germany's attitude on terrorist organizations, such as the Kurdistan Workers' Party [PKK], Fetullah Terrorist Organization [FETÖ] and Revolutionary People's Liberation Party-Front [DHKP-C] has Berlin rejects extraditing the terrorists that Turkey has been demanding," Yıldırım said before his scheduled meeting with Merkel.

"Three-and-a-half million Turkish people are living in Germany. Merkel shouldn't upset them by not returning terrorists," he said.

Yıldırım spoke of Germany and many other European countries' support for FETÖ and the PKK and its affiliated groups and said European countries both support terrorists financially and shelter them within their borders.

"The parties that constantly call on Turkey to act legally should act legally themselves," Yıldırım said.

Many European countries, particularly Germany, France, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Belgium and Sweden along with the United States became bases for PKK, FETÖ and DHKP-C terrorists.

PKK terrorists are also known to be collecting millions of euros in “donations" in Europe through its so-called non-governmental organizations that operate in many European countries.

Also, FETÖ leader Fetullah Gülen lives in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania.

Washington says it is cooperating with Ankara on the matter of Gülen's extradition request and asked its NATO ally to have patience while it processes the extradition request for Gülen to meet U.S. legal requirements.

Turkey's government says the deadly coup attempt, which killed more than 240 people and injured more than 2,000, was organized by FETÖ members, so Gülen's extradition should be done immediately.

Refugee crisis, Cyprus discussions expected

Merkel will also meet with Yıldırım after talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

Turkey's refugee deal with the EU will be at the top of the agenda, which will also include discussions on bilateral issues.

The current situation in Syria, cooperation inside NATO and the Cyprus question will also be on the table.