2 Interpretation Mistakes in Erdoğan-Trump Joint Press Conference

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Two interpretation mistakes were made during President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s speech he made in the joint press conference held with US President Donald Trump in the White House.

The two leaders met for the first time in person after Trump was elected president. The meeting lasted 20 minutes. The interpreter did “false” translations of the two disputed subjects, which are the “YPG” and “aiding terror organizations”.

Two mistakes were listed in the report released on İlhan Tanır’s news website washingtonhatti.com. Noting that “Erdoğan read his statement from a paper” and “the interpreter had also the same paper”, Tanır said that “false” interpretation was done in parts which would draw US reaction.

First false interpretation

At the 8th minute of the press conference, Erdoğan said “Taking YPG and PYD terror organizations into consideration does not conform with the global agreement we have reached”.

The interpretation, which excluded the “terror organization” expression, was:

“Taking YPG and PYD in the region — taking them into consideration in the region, it will never be accepted, and it is going to be against a global agreement that we have reached.”

As is known, the US doesn’t designate the YPG a terror organization.

Cumhurbaşkanı Erdoğan, ABD Başkanı Trump ile ortak basın toplantısında konuşuyor. https://t.co/X6BkwlTFxH

— T.C.Cumhurbaşkanlığı (@tcbestepe) 16 Mayıs 2017

Second false interpretation

In the press conference, through the end of its 10th minute, Erdoğan said “We hope that the steps to compensate past mistakes with respect to the principled and committed fight against terrorism will continue”.

The interpretation was “And we know that, in terms of keeping up with the principled and committed fight against the terrorist organizations all around the world, we will not repeat the mistakes of the past, and we will continue down this path together.”

With that sentence, Erdoğan had sent a message to the US as to the US arms aid to the YPG but with the interpretation, the message couldn’t be delivered, since Trump shaking his head seemed content as it was being interpreted. (HK/TK)