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"Da jeg så kupforsøget på fjernsynet, faldt min første mistanke på hvem der kunne stå bag, på Gülen. Udvikling siden den dag har tydeliggjort at Gülen og den organisation han leder stod bag kupforsøget," blev Bildt citeret for at sige af det statssponsorerede Anadolu Agency.
"I mine samtaler både her i Tyrkiet og med internationale eksperter der følger Tyrkiet, fornemmede jeg ingen tvivl om at Gülen stod bag kupforsøget," sagde han.
Tidliger har Bildt også nævnt på Twitter at delegationen ikke havde mødt en eneste der havde betvivlet Gülen's indblanding i kupforsøget.
Kommentar: Gülen er ensbetydende med CIA
Artiklen Former Swedish Prime Minister: No doubt that Gülen was behind Turkey's coup attempt er ikke videre oversat til dansk.
"We have not met a single either Turkish or foreign expert or observer who doubts that the Gülen group was the driving core of the coup," he tweeted.
The former Swedish premier also stressed that he had long been aware of the activities of the Fethullahist Terror Organization (FETÖ) within the military, the police and judicial system but never expected a coup attempt.
In his speech at a special reception hosted by the Aydın Doğan Foundation on Aug. 31, Bildt said the aim of the ECFR visit was to "strengthen the Turkey-EU bridge" and develop mutual understanding on both sides.
"[The coup attempt] created a deep shock effect on all of us. Resisting to defend the constitution and the democracy was more important than anything. With the efforts of the Turkish people and especially the efforts of those killed, the coup was defeated. We should do all we can to consider this an opportunity for Turkey to strengthen its democracy in the coming years," he added.
Speaking at an interview with Hürriyet before the delegation's visit, Bildt had said the European Union made a mistake by not showing sufficient empathy with Ankara immediately after the coup attempt.
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