American general holds first meetings with Turkish leadership after coup attempt

U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff General Joseph Dunford held talks with the Turkish leadership first after failed coup attempt.

Dandorf met among others with Prime Minister Binali Yildirim and chief of staff of the armed forces of Turkey Hulusi Akar. As stated, the American general slammed the attempt of coup in Turkey and stressed the importance of a permanent partnership, DW reported.

Yildiirm reiterated his government's call for the United States to extradite preacher Fethullah Gulen, who Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan believes is a mastermind behind the coup attempt, as soon as possible. For the Turkish side it is important that  U.S. as a “strategic partner and ally” demonstrated a clear and decisive stance against the coup.