Bosnia and Herzegovina's foreign minister confirmed
Friday the country was in touch with Turkey concerning schools
linked to the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO).
Igor Crnadak spoke at a news conference in Banja Luka following
an official visit to Turkey's capital Ankara on Thursday.
"Turkey considers that this organization is dangerous, so it
warns Bosnia, like other countries," he said. However, he denied
Bosnia was coming under pressure from Turkey over the presence of
such schools in the Balkan country.
"[Bosnian] entities and cantons have authorities for these
schools. Our position is to monitor developments and stay in touch
with Turkey. However, we do not have any pressure from Turkey,"
said Crnadak.
Turkey's government has repeatedly said the deadly July 15 coup
attempt, which killed more than 240 people and injured nearly 2,200
others, was organized by U.S.-based Fetullah Gulen's followers and
FETO.
FETO operates a total of 40 schools in the region including 15
institutions in Bosnia, 12 in Albania, seven in Macedonia, five in
Kosovo and one in Serbia.
Schools affiliated with FETO in Bosnia and Herzegovina include
four preschools, five elementary schools, five high schools and one
university operating in areas including the capital Sarajevo plus
Mostar, Bihac, Zenica and Tuzla.
Earlier on Friday, a written statement from Bosna Sema
Educational Institutions -- which has associations with FETO
organizations -- said that negotiations for the sale of properties
to investment fund U.S. Global Invest had been successful.
The terror network has operated in Bosnia and Herzegovina since
1998, establishing Bosna Sema education facilities the same
year.
Sarajevo’s International Burch University has an effective role
in structuring the network. In the tourism sector, the well-known
company Fidan provides public employees with tours to Turkey.
Fetullah Gulen’s books are available in Bosnian through Hikmet
Publications.
Led by U.S.-based Gulen, FETO is accused of orchestrating the
July coup attempt as well as being behind a long-running campaign
to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish
institutions, particularly the military, police and judiciary.