Türkiye has called on Belgium to take concrete measures against terrorist groups operating on its territory, strengthen judicial cooperation, and step up efforts to combat organised crime and irregular migration.
Turkish officials on Tuesday pressed on these issues at a meeting in Brussels of Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Justice Minister Akin Gurlek, and Interior Minister Mustafa Ciftci with their Belgian counterparts, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot, Justice Minister Annelies Verlinden, and Security and Interior Minister Bernard Quintin, along with Asylum and Migration Minister Anneleen Van Bossuyt.
Gurlek stressed the importance of cooperation against the Fetullah Terrorist Organisation (FETO), the group behind a 2016 coup attempt in Türkiye that killed 253 people and wounded thousands.
“We expect our ally Belgium to take concrete and effective measures against FETO's organisation in its own country,” Gurlek said, urging Belgian authorities to closely examine organisations linked to the group that operates through front associations, educational institutions, and civil society structures.
Extradition requests
He also called for the extradition of FETO members to Türkiye and the timely processing of judicial assistance requests, emphasising that international protection mechanisms should not undermine extradition proceedings involving people wanted for serious crimes.
Gurlek highlighted the need for closer cooperation against cross-border organised crime, including drug trafficking, human trafficking, migrant smuggling, and money laundering.
He cited a September operation coordinated by prosecutors in the Turkish coastal city of Izmir against a criminal organisation, which was found to be involved in drug trafficking and operating from Belgium, as an example of practical cooperation.
“Lasting and effective results in combating terrorism can only be achieved through strong international cooperation,” Gurlek said.
Following the meeting, Gurlek held bilateral talks with Verlinden and invited her to visit Türkiye.
He said stronger communication between ministries and more effective use of existing legal instruments are essential to achieving concrete results.
Ciftci likewise called for a coordinated international response to terrorism, saying: “Our expectation from the international community and our friends is that no distinction should be made between terrorist organisations and none should be shown any tolerance.”
“No country should allow its territory to become a haven for terrorist groups operating against another country.”
Concrete action
He called on Belgium to take concrete action against groups linked to the terrorist PKK and FETO, including closing affiliated institutions and responding positively to Türkiye's extradition requests.
“We see that this group has unfortunately been using Belgium almost as a refuge,” Ciftci said of FETO.
He urged Belgian authorities to monitor the group's schools and nongovernmental organisations and prevent its members from abusing the asylum system through false information and documents.
Ciftci also stressed the importance of repatriating foreign terrorist fighters to their countries of origin to prevent Daesh from regaining a foothold in the region.
Irregular migration
On organised crime, he called for closer cooperation between the two countries' justice ministries and Interpol units to locate and extradite suspected criminal group leaders and members believed to be in Belgium.
Addressing irregular migration, Ciftci said Türkiye had strengthened its land and maritime measures to curb migration flows and disrupt smuggling networks.
He called for greater cooperation with EU countries, support for voluntary returns, and increased resettlement quotas, stressing that lasting progress requires international solidarity and a fairer sharing of responsibility.
