US deportation of Gulen "positive step" - Turkish PM

ANKARA, Feb 22 (KUNA) -- The deportation of Fethullah Gulen to another country is a positive step from the US, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said Wednesday.
"Our preference is extradition, but we would consider the deportation as a positive move," Yildirim said in statements to reporters.
"We want a judgement. But there are also administrative measures to be taken," he argued.
The Turkish government accuses Gulen, who lives in self-imposed exile in the US State of Pennsylvania, of standing behind the July 15, 2016 failed coup attempt.
Turkey has since submitted an official request to the former US administration of President Barack Obama demanding Gulen extradition, but the US did not respond to the Turkish demand so far.
Yildirim, however, noted that the new US administration is "more accommodating and sensitive" on the subject.
On relations with Washington, Yildirim said they will continue on Syria, and Ankara has "serious coordination with the new administration." "The US wants to operate here with the YPG (People's Protection Units) and the PYD (Democratic Union Party). We are trying to prevent that and we argue it is not the right thing to do," he said.
"Our stance is clear. If they want to fight terrorist organizations, they should not do so with another terrorist organization like the PYD." On whether close coordination with the US has a negative effect on relations with Russia, Yildirim said, "we can get along with both." "Our relations with the US are different from our relations with Russia. They are not alternatives to each other. We can get along with both," he noted. (end) rs.ibi