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Today's Zaman, Turkey
May 2 2014
Pro-gov't media twists German president's remarks
May 02, 2014, Friday/ 18:33:34/ TODAY'S ZAMAN/ ANKARA
A pro-government media outlet, Daily Sabah, has twisted the contents
of an interview with German President Joachim Gauck on A Haber TV
channel to portray him as the victim of non-governmental organizations
due to his criticism of the Turkish government's oppressive practices
towards the media and judiciary.
On a four-day visit to Turkey in which he delivered a speech at the
Middle East Technical University (ODTÃ`) on Monday, Gauck was vocal in
his criticism of the government and its anti-democratic measures on
the Internet and the judiciary as well as the broad powers it has
granted the National Intelligence Organization (MÄ°T).
When asked about the critical stance towards the government he had
expressed on Monday, Gauck responded that when friends come together
they should able to utter critical remarks and should ask some
questions, adding, `It is not me who generated these complaints. These
criticisms have been expressed by NGOs. I also listened to what they
pointed out. I came together with the representatives of these NGOs as
well as government officials. As a result of these meetings, I
developed an opinion about the issues we discussed. I think that the
audience at ODTÃ` obviously understood what I meant.'
However, while Gauck's statement is quite clear, Daily Sabah twisted
the statement in its report by claiming that "NGOs had influenced him
to speak in such a manner, and he was misguided by these NGOs,"
ignoring Gauck's statement that he had reached a conclusion about the
government's anti-democratic practices towards the media and judiciary
after a series of official and non-official meetings in Turkey.
Gauck had criticized gov't for pressure on media and judiciary
The German president said in Ankara that he is "horrified" about the
negative developments in Turkey, criticizing the government for
censoring the Internet, controlling the judiciary and granting broad
powers to the spy agency.
"Don't take my statements as interference in your domestic affairs,"
Gauck told a group of students at Ankara's prestigious ODTÃ`, adding,
"I should confess that the developments in Turkey horrify me." He said
the aim of his remarks was to share his concerns as a citizen of a
democratic nation.
Gauck's remarks came at a time in which the government has placed the
judiciary under its control with a recent bill on the Supreme Board of
Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK). The German president said the
government's removal of a number of police and prosecutors from their
posts will block the illumination of further suspect developments. "If
the government tries to manipulate court decisions in its favor or
escape from rulings against itself, can we talk about independence of
the judiciary?" he asked.
Gauck also mentioned some positive developments in Turkey, which
include the taming of the military's power in politics. He recalled
that a dialogue has been started with Kurds and that tension has
decreased in that area. He added that the historic taboos about the
oppression of Armenians and Kurds have started to dissolve.
ErdoÄ?an targeted Gauck for his statements
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip ErdoÄ?an lashed out at Gauck on Tuesday for
his criticism of the Turkish government, saying he probably still
thinks of himself as a pastor and that he should keep his advice to
himself.
`What did he say [during his ODTÃ` talk]? 'Don't take this as
interfering in your internal affairs, but¦' We have suffered a lot
from these 'buts.' We have no time to waste on such things. That's why
he needs to act like a statesman. He must still feel like a pastor --
because he was a pastor at one time. He is looking at things from that
angle,' ErdoÄ?an argued.
May 2 2014
Pro-gov't media twists German president's remarks
May 02, 2014, Friday/ 18:33:34/ TODAY'S ZAMAN/ ANKARA
A pro-government media outlet, Daily Sabah, has twisted the contents
of an interview with German President Joachim Gauck on A Haber TV
channel to portray him as the victim of non-governmental organizations
due to his criticism of the Turkish government's oppressive practices
towards the media and judiciary.
On a four-day visit to Turkey in which he delivered a speech at the
Middle East Technical University (ODTÃ`) on Monday, Gauck was vocal in
his criticism of the government and its anti-democratic measures on
the Internet and the judiciary as well as the broad powers it has
granted the National Intelligence Organization (MÄ°T).
When asked about the critical stance towards the government he had
expressed on Monday, Gauck responded that when friends come together
they should able to utter critical remarks and should ask some
questions, adding, `It is not me who generated these complaints. These
criticisms have been expressed by NGOs. I also listened to what they
pointed out. I came together with the representatives of these NGOs as
well as government officials. As a result of these meetings, I
developed an opinion about the issues we discussed. I think that the
audience at ODTÃ` obviously understood what I meant.'
However, while Gauck's statement is quite clear, Daily Sabah twisted
the statement in its report by claiming that "NGOs had influenced him
to speak in such a manner, and he was misguided by these NGOs,"
ignoring Gauck's statement that he had reached a conclusion about the
government's anti-democratic practices towards the media and judiciary
after a series of official and non-official meetings in Turkey.
Gauck had criticized gov't for pressure on media and judiciary
The German president said in Ankara that he is "horrified" about the
negative developments in Turkey, criticizing the government for
censoring the Internet, controlling the judiciary and granting broad
powers to the spy agency.
"Don't take my statements as interference in your domestic affairs,"
Gauck told a group of students at Ankara's prestigious ODTÃ`, adding,
"I should confess that the developments in Turkey horrify me." He said
the aim of his remarks was to share his concerns as a citizen of a
democratic nation.
Gauck's remarks came at a time in which the government has placed the
judiciary under its control with a recent bill on the Supreme Board of
Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK). The German president said the
government's removal of a number of police and prosecutors from their
posts will block the illumination of further suspect developments. "If
the government tries to manipulate court decisions in its favor or
escape from rulings against itself, can we talk about independence of
the judiciary?" he asked.
Gauck also mentioned some positive developments in Turkey, which
include the taming of the military's power in politics. He recalled
that a dialogue has been started with Kurds and that tension has
decreased in that area. He added that the historic taboos about the
oppression of Armenians and Kurds have started to dissolve.
ErdoÄ?an targeted Gauck for his statements
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip ErdoÄ?an lashed out at Gauck on Tuesday for
his criticism of the Turkish government, saying he probably still
thinks of himself as a pastor and that he should keep his advice to
himself.
`What did he say [during his ODTÃ` talk]? 'Don't take this as
interfering in your internal affairs, but¦' We have suffered a lot
from these 'buts.' We have no time to waste on such things. That's why
he needs to act like a statesman. He must still feel like a pastor --
because he was a pastor at one time. He is looking at things from that
angle,' ErdoÄ?an argued.