Turkey’s PM meets Lithuanian FM

ANKARA

Prime Minister Binali Yildirim expressed appreciation for Lithuania’s stance against a recent failed coup attempt during a meeting Monday with that country's foreign minister, Turkish ministry sources told Anadolu Agency.

At the Cankaya Palace in Ankara, Yildirim received Linas Linkevicius who stressed his satisfaction with Turkey’s resistance to the attempted overthrow.

Yildirim said the meeting was the first at the first ministerial level between Turkey and the European Union (EU) since the failed coup.

The premier underlined that Turkey would continue to fight with determination against Fetullah Gulen’s Terrorist Organization (FETO) members within the framework of the democratic rule of law.

Linkevicius said his county would stand with Turkey in its fight against terrorism as he harshly condemned the putsch attempt and expressed his support for Turkey.

Turkey's government said the July 15 defeated coup, which left 240 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured, was organized by followers of Fetullah Gulen and his FETO network.

Gulen, who has lived in self-imposed exile in the U.S. since 1999, is accused of leading a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police, and judiciary, forming what is commonly known as the parallel state.