Erdoğan’s Reply to Obama’s Criticism on Press Freedom
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President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has responded to US President Barack Obama’s concerns as to freedom of expression in Turkey.
Obama had said he told Erdoğan in person that “crackdowns against press may lead Turkey to a troubling path”.
Erdoğan said, “I wasn’t told such a thing. I felt sad when I heard I was spoken ‘behind my back’”.
Obama: There are some trends within Turkey that I have been troubled with
President Erdoğan and US President Obama had held a meeting in the White House on March 31.
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.
Erdoğan: I wasn’t told such things
Erdoğan answered journalists’ question as to this matter:
According to Hürriyet daily’s report, Erdoğan was asked “[…] Obama raised his concerns about freedom of the press and democracy. He said that he told you these in person. What is your evalution?”
Erdoğan contrary to Obama said these topics didn’t come up in the meeting.
“I felt sad when I heard I was talked behind my back. Those topics didn’t come up in our meeting with Mr. Obama. Moreover, we’d agreed that talking these matters face to face would be more fruitful than discussing via press.
“As I mentioned in my speech at the Brookings Institute, criticism and insults should be considered apart. In my meeting here with spiritual leader, I explained it to them with examples.
“Some newspapers in Turkey are captioning calling the President ‘murderer, thief’. If there was dictatorship in Turkey as claimed, how could there be such publications?”
“Insult cannot be deemed as freedom of the press”
“Insult and threat cannot be permitted in the West either. Just recently someone threatening Obama on Facebook has been arrested. Someone in Germany did something similar to [German Chancellor Angela] Merkel and received punishment. US laws punish threat against the president with 5 years of prison and substantial fine. Examples of penalties over insult or threat can be given from countries like Germany, France, the Netherlands as well.
“Insult and threat cannot be deemed as freedom of the press. If Obama in our meeting had brought up these topics, I would put forward these examples and told him these”. (BK/TK)