Does Erdogan truly want to mend ties with US? By John Solomou | Updated: Feb 08, 2021 17:36 IST Nicosia [Cyprus], February 8 (ANI): While Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is supposed to be trying to mend ties with the United States, his Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu last week told Hurriyet newspaper that "it is blatantly clear that the US is behind the (failed coup of) July 15. It was the Fetullah Terrorist Organisation (FETO) which carried it out upon their orders. Europe was enthusiastic about it." The US State Department flatly denied the accusation, saying it was "wholly false" and promptly condemned it, adding, "These remarks and other unfounded and irresponsible claims of US responsibility for events in Turkey are inconsistent with Turkey's status as a NATO Ally and strategic partner of the United States."