'Turkey to apply same criteria to countries that don't return FETÖ terrorists'

Turkish Justice Minister Bekir Bozdağ harshly reacted to countries that have not extradited Fethullah Terrorist Organization (FETÖ) terrorists involved in the July 15 coup attempt, referring to a Greek court's decision not to extradite eight fugitive, former soldiers linked to the defeated putsch.

"Turkey will employ the same criteria and react the same way to those countries when they face a similar situation," Bozdağ said in an appearance with Turkish channel TVNET.

"Not only Greece, but also Germany and some other Western countries don't extradite FETÖ terrorists. Turkey will cooperate with countries in terms of judicial assistance as much as those countries support Turkey in this matter," he said.

“This step will really hurt relations between Turkey and Greece. Officials of both countries see this closely," Bozdağ said.

The now former soldiers fled to Greece in a stolen Black Hawk helicopter a few hours after the July 15, 2016, coup bid was defeated in Turkey. The men – two majors, four captains and two sergeants – were dismissed from the military after they fled.

The former soldiers have been fighting extradition since they arrived in Greece and claimed asylum on July 16.

Turkey's Justice Ministry has also asked Interpol to issue international arrest warrants for the eight former soldiers.

The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office said four of the soldiers spoke by telephone on the night of the failed coup to two members of the commando squad that tried to assassinate President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Greek authorities were told of the link, prosecutors said.

Now with Donald Trump as president, Bozdağ has also reiterated Turkey's demand that the U.S. extradite FETÖ leader Fethullah Gülen.

"Ankara and Washington will continue conducting talks for Gülen's extradition," he said.

He also criticized CNN International television for its “pro-FETÖ" interview, saying that it started to target Turkey as Donald Trump criticizes any broadcast against him.

Bozdağ also dismissed allegations from the moderate opposition that the presidential system will not be an audit on the constitutional change.

"The president will give an account to the nation. The new order will pave the way for the president to be charged for committing all the crimes the president allegedly committed," he said.

The constitutional changes, in particular the move to a presidential system, has been on the political agenda since Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the former prime minister and Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader, was elected presidency in August 2014.

In the current parliamentary system, the people vote for the 550 members of Parliament and the government is formed by a minimum of 276 lawmakers.

In the proposed presidential system, the electorate would vote for a person to form a government independently of Parliament, with no need of a vote of confidence.