Obama criticizes Erdoğan on Freedom of Speech, Democracy
Click here to read the artcle in Turkish / Haberin İngilizcesi için buraya tıklayın.
Having a meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Thursday evening (March 31) in the White House, US President Barack Obama expressed his concerns on the freedom of speech situation in Turkey.
Obama coming together with the journalists after the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington has been asked about President Erdoğan’s guards attacking on the journalists in Washington DC .
CLICK - ERDOĞAN SPEAKS AT BROOKINGS, HIS GUARDS ATTACK JOURNALISTS
Andrew Beatty from AFP news agency has asked Obama; “You have met Erdoğan, the President of Turkey hours after the pretty ugly incidents experienced on the Brookings Institute. What I was wondering; do you see him [Erdoğan] as an authoritarian?”
Obama has responded to the question as “"It's no secret that there are some trends within Turkey that I have been troubled with”.
Obama has added; “I think the approach they have been taking toward the press is one that could lead Turkey down a path that would be very troubling”.
“I have also told President Erdoğan”
Obama has noted in brief:
“Turkey is also a NATO ally. An extremely important ally for our fight against ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria). A country, whose history goes a long way back and a country which we have a strategic relationship with. President Erdoğan is a person whom I have a relationship with since I came to service. We have a productive cooperation on many issues.
“Besides, it is also true that I have told him that directly. It's no secret that there are some trends within Turkey that I have been troubled with.
“I am someone who has a strong belief in freedom of speech. In religious freedoms. In the rule of law and democracy.
““I think the approach they have been taking toward the press is one that could lead Turkey down a path that would be very troubling. We will keep on giving them advices.
“I have also told President Erdoğan about that. [Erdogan] came into office with a promise of democracy, and Turkey has historically been a country in which deep Islamic faith has lived side by side with modernity and an increasing openness. And that's the legacy that he should pursue, rather than a strategy that involves repression of information and shutting down democratic debate.
“And this is the heritage he (Erdoğan) has to stick to instead of a strategy including the interference with the democratic debate and suppression of information.
“While saying this, I would also like to add that Turkey’s collaborations do have great importance on many international and regional issues. And it will further remain as such. As it also applies to many allies and partners, we work with them, appreciate their efforts and there may be some discrepancies. And we speak out where these are”. (AS/DG)
* Photograph: Reuters, DW
