APA Branding FETO Terrorist Organization 'Important Step' – Turkish Official

The decision of the Asian Parliamentary Assembly (APA) to recognize FETO (Fethullah Terrorist Organization) that Ankara blames for the July coup attempt, as a terrorist organization, is crucial for Turkey, Turkish Deputy Parliament Speaker Ahmet Aydin told Sputnik.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The FETO was recognized as a terrorist organization during the APA session last week.

"All the participating states expressed support to Turkey in the fight against [FETO]. This decision was reflected in the final declaration. We consider this a very important step," Aydin said on Wednesday.

The APA includes over 40 member-states, China, Russia and Saudi Arabia among them. Over a dozen other countries, including Japan and Qatar have an observer status in the assembly. At the 9th Plenary Session held in Cambodia last week, Turkey was elected chairman of the APA for a two-year period.

On July 15, a military coup attempt took place in Turkey. Ankara accused Islamic preacher Fethullah Gulen, who has been living in the US state of Pennsylvania since 1999, and his followers of playing a key role in the coup. Since July, Turkey has arrested hundreds of military personnel, activists and journalists on suspicion of links to Gulen.