Given how Turkish newspapers “report” the news, “independent journalist” Alexis Debat would have no trouble landing a top spot at any one of them. For instance, during Pope Benedict’s visit to Turkey last November, local papers quoted Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan as claiming that the pontiff told him, “You know we don’t have a political role, but we wish for Turkey’s entry into the EU” – which prompted a swift “clarification” by the Vatican that essentially boiled down to “as if.”
In the latest example of great moments in Turkish journalism, here is a comparison of how the paper Hürriyet sumarized a September 13th speech by R. Nicholas Burns, Under Secretary for Political Affairs to the Atlantic Council of the United States (ACUS) and what the third-highest ranking official at the U.S. Department of State actually said.
Hürriyet: Nicholas Burns … has said that Turkey-US relations have reached a “critical juncture.”
Burns: “I am pleased to be back at the Atlantic Council to discuss what is one of the most critical relationships for America in the world today – the relationship between the United States and Turkey.”
Note: Nowhere in his remarks, does Burns say that the relationship between the two countries has reached a “critical juncture”; he does say several times that the two countries have a critical relationship. “Critical juncture” suggests a crossroad, which in turn suggests a parting of the ways. No diplomat would use such language to an ally.
***
Hürriyet: “Turkey is critical for us, an indispensable ally, with her commitment to secular democracy. Prime Minister Erdogan and President Gül are reliable. They have kept promises they have made to us in the past. Turkey is an important portal for energy sources to reach Europe. We support Turkey’s accession to the European Union.”
Burns: “The Turkish people have just concluded important, even historic elections. These elections demonstrated the strong health of Turkey’s democracy, the most impressive in the Moslem world. The result was a decisive and Turkey can now expect a period of renewal and growth at home and responsibility and challenge in its foreign policy. The United States government looks forward to a very close relationship with President Abdullah Gül and Prime Minister Erdogan. President Bush and Secretary Rice respect both of these men. We have worked very well and productively with them in years past and know that will continue in the years to come. We would like to agree with the newly-elected Turkish leadership on a period in the coming months of high-level visits, discussions and joint commitment to face together the challenges of stability and peace in the Middle East.” …
“Turkey is the gateway for exports of oil and natural gas from the Caspian region and Iraq to Europe. Building on our successful cooperation in the 1990’s to develop the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline and the South Caucasus gas pipeline, we now seek to expand this critical energy infrastructure into a Southern Corridor to help our European allies – Greece, Italy and into Western Europe – create a free market for energy supplies in Europe. These efforts can also help Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan bolster their own independence by providing them access to European energy markets.” …
“We are among the strongest supporters of Turkey’s EU aspirations. We call on Europe’s leaders to signal clearly and unambiguously that Turkey will have a voice in the European Union in the future.”
Note: Nowhere in his remarks does Burns say that Erdogan and Gül, specifically, have been reliable allies and kept their promises to the U.S. Rather in weeping, historic terms, he states that Turkey has been a dependable and important ally in a turbulent region dating back to the Truman Doctrine.
***
Hürriyet: “The energy agreement between Iran and Turkey bothered us. It is beneficial for both the US and Turkey to keep Iran, which supports the Taleban and wants to possess nuclear power, under control.”
Burns: “We have worked well together to support of the clear international consensus demanding that Iran cease its nuclear weapons development programs. Turkey has also proven to be strong partner in countering Iran’s support for terrorists in the Middle East. But the United States and Turkey still need to work out some tactical differences in handling Iran. We understand that Iran is a neighbor of Turkey and key trading partner, which sends over a million tourists to Turkey each year. Turkey’s recent conclusion of a memorandum on energy cooperation with Iran, however, is troubling. Now is not the time for business as usual with Iran. We urge all of our friends and allies, including Turkey, to not reward Iran by investing in its oil and gas sector, while Iran continues to defy the United Nations Security Council by continuing its nuclear research for a weapons capability.”
Note: Hürriyet toned Burns’ remarks down big time. This was the one and only clear criticism of Turkish policy Burns dared to utter in his speech, and it was all-but censored. Burns pussyfooted around every other sensitive topic – in some cases ignoring some very inconvenient facts. For instance, Burns talked about Turkey’s “160-year legacy of modernizing reform, as the most successful example in the world today of a secular democracy within a Muslim society that can inspire reformers in the greater Middle East and beyond.” He did not mention how the Armenian Genocide and successive massacres of other Christian minorities during the Ottoman era left modern Turkey 99.8 percent Muslim, how converts from Islam are prosecuted and sometimes murdered, and the spate of murders of Catholic priests that have occurred over the past couple of years. If you are not Muslim, Turkey is neither secular nor a democracy.
***
Hürriyet: “The PKK is a terrorist organisation. Our good faith should not be underestimated. I hope that solid steps will be taken against the PKK within the next six months.””The PKK is a terrorist organisation. Our good faith should not be underestimated. I hope that solid steps will be taken against the PKK within the next six months.”
Burns: “[T]he United States condemns the PKK as a vicious terrorist group. We mourn the loss of innocent Turkish lives in these attacks. We remain fully committed to working with the Governments of Turkey and Iraq to counter PKK terrorists, who are headquartered in northern Iraq. We are making progress in putting in place the mechanisms required to produce such concrete results against the PKK. We will also follow up our success in working with Turkey and our other European partners to interdict PKK terror financiers in Europe and bring them to justice.”
Note: Nowhere in his remarks does Burns mention a timetable.
***
Hürriyet: “The Fener Greek Patriarchate is of ecumenical status. The US recognises Patriarch Bartholomeos as a friend. A priests’ school should be opened in Heybeliada.”
Burns: “We … hope Turkey will help make its own case with the EU by allowing the Ecumenical Patriarch’s religious school at Halki in Istanbul to reopen decades after it closed.”
Note: Burns is very specific as to which school should be re-opened, which has quite a different meaning than opening a school. Also, Burns ties this to Turkey’s EU bid, not to U.S. “friendship” with the Patriarch.
***
Hürriyet: “Normalize relations with Armenia. The Turkish-Armenian border should be opened. We are opposed to the passing of the Armenian bill in Congress. In the case of this bill passing, those in Turkey who seek to keep a dialogue between the Armenians and the Turks will be silenced.”
Burns: “[T]he U.S. and Turkey face a serious challenge with regard to Armenia. Each year on April 24, Armenian Remembrance Day, President Bush has issued a public statement lamenting the mass killings and forced deportations of up to 1.5 million Armenians by Ottoman authorities at the end of World War I. …
We believe passage of the U.S. House of Representative’s Resolution 106, which would make a political determination that the tragedy of 1915 constituted genocide, would undercut voices emerging in Turkey for dialogue and reconciliations concerning these horrific events. We therefore have recommended to Congress that it not pass such a resolution. We strongly encourage Turkey to normalize its relations and reopen its border with Armenia, steps that will help bring peace, prosperity and cooperation to the Caucasus. Now, in the wake of the AKP’s resounding electoral victories, is the time for Ankara to make a bold opening toward Armenia. And we hope that Armenia will respond in kind.”
Note: The phrase “will be silenced” has an ominous ring to it, as compared to what Burns actually said. Considering that Nationalist sympathizers “silenced” Armenian journalist Hrant Dink by shooting him dead outside the offices of his newspaper, Agos, this wording is not accidental.
***
Hürriyet: “Article 301 of the Turkish penal code, used even against Nobel prize-winner Orhan Pamuk, should be lifted.”
Burns: [W]e hope Turkey will repeal Article 301 of the Penal Code, which restricts freedom of expression and has led to outlandish legal cases against private citizens and global figures such as Nobel Laureate Orhan Pamuk.
Note: And why should it be lifted? For some reason, the editors at Hürriyet did not feel comfortable using the phrase “freedom of expression.” Maybe they would have found themselves in violation of Article 301, somehow.
***
Hürriyet: “We are working for the UN to start a new venture in Cyprus.”
Burns: “We appreciate the difficulties that such cooperation poses for Turkey given the still-evolving Turkey-EU relationship, the circumstances of Turkey’s participation in activities within the European Security and Defense Policy, as well as the complications resulting from the lack of a Cyprus settlement. Yet it is vital for all of us, including Turkey, that NATO and the EU are indeed able to work together in crisis areas around the world. For this and many other reasons, we call on all relevant parties to reinvigorate UN-brokered efforts to reach a comprehensive Cyprus settlement that reunifies the island into a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation. We welcome last week’s meeting of President Papadopoulos and Mehmet Ali Talat, and look forward to future such meetings to implement last year’s July 8 agreement.”
Note: This bowdlerization of Burns’ remarks makes no sense – at least not to The Stiletto. Maybe “new venture” is a code phrase that only Turks can understand.
The U.S. State Department Web site posted Burns’ speech, and hard copy was no doubt distributed to reporters covering the event. Hürriyet’s “version” of the speech cannot be chalked up to a poor translation. In a country where journalists can be prosecuted and jailed for insulting Islam or Turkishness, it is reasonable to assume a chilling effect that induces papers to report the news the government wants the people to know instead of the news the people need to know. Until Article 301 is repealed, Turkey will never be a Western-style democracy. In the long run, the U.S. does Turkey no favors by pretending otherwise.
Note: To reward Israeli president Shimon Peres for personally calling Abe Foxman to ensure that the Anti-Defamation League doesn’t let up in lobbying against the symbolic Congressional resolution recognizing the Armenian Genocide, Turkey provided Israel with intelligence on suspected Syrian nuclear facilities before a sortie into Syrian airspace by Israeli F-15I planes. Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Jarida reports that Turkish intelligence did not inform Erdogan of its plans. In an article no doubt meant to create the cover of plausible deniability for Erdogan, Hürriyet reported that an unnamed government official demanded to know whether the Israeli planes flew over Turkish airspace during the mission. Anyone who does not believe that Peres’ phone call and Turkey’s behind-the-scenes role in the Israeli sortie is not a quid pro quo is either naïve or not paying attention. Turkey will stop at nothing to guarantee that it will never be held accountable for the Armenian Genocide.
The Stiletto writes about politics and other stuff at The Stiletto Blog.Â
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Follow-up comment rss or Leave a TrackbackAs an American of Armenian descent, it boggles my mind that the mere recognition of the facts of the Armenian genocide is is an up-hill battle. It is understandable that the perpitrators of the Armenian Genocide,the Turks deny it, sensor it, throw people in jail for uttering it and even murdering people for saying the truth, but other countries like the U.S., a country that is supposed to stand for morality, justice, equality, only does so when it doesn’t interfere with it’s agenda. Most surprising,(actually not so surprising)is Israel. Both Israel and Turkey are actually the worst violators of human righs. Ironically we give both of these “so-called allies” Billions of MY tax dollars. I have a great idea: why don’t we all, as American citizens, vote to see how many really want to keep giving our money to those countires? If we voted, the money would stop tomorrow. And beleve me, in the end, it is always about the money.
A complete transcript of Burns’ remarks and video can be found at http://www.acus.org/about-news-Nicholas_Burns_Global_Leadership.asp
Thanks. The article includes a link to the text of his speech, but The Stiletto did not know about the video. It will be interesting to see his tone of voice and facial gestures during those parts of the speech that were “rewritten” by the Turkish paper.
the turks antil now do not andestand that they a first have to recognize the armenian genocide.that will be help theys to go aut from animal world.
For people who have followed the turks would recognize this as very much a standard operating procedure. Anything and everything is there to be taken advantage of. I appreciate stilleto taking the time to point this out.
interesting article just puplished about Armenian Genocide Resolution (H.Res.106)
Fear from Turkey hidden in warnings sent to Congress, Aram Hambarian says
27.09.2007 16:34
YEREVAN (YERKIR) – Fearing an imminent vote on the Armenian Genocide Resolution (H.Res.106), Turkey’s multi-million dollar lobbyists have solicited the assistance of eight former U.S. Secretaries of State in seeking to derail this human rights legislation, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).
“Facing a growing bipartisan Congressional majority demanding passage of the Armenian Genocide Resolution, Turkey’s lobbyists – out of desperation and a never ending desire to squeeze more billing dollars out of Ankara – have turned to the very architects of our government’s failed policy of appeasing Turkey,” said Aram Hamparian, Executive Director of the ANCA. “Sadly, successive U.S. administrations have found themselves lacking the moral courage to end the cycle of genocide – from Cambodia, to Rwanda and, today in Darfur – precisely because of their legacy of caving in to, rather than confronting genocidal regimes.”
“We are, as Americans, especially troubled that, in warning Congress not to make a simple anti-genocide statement for fear of upsetting Turkey, these officials would outsource our nation’s moral conscience to a foreign government,” added Hamparian.
In their September 25th jointly-signed letter, former Secretaries of State Madeleine Albright, James Baker III, Warren Christopher, Laurence Eagleburger, Alexander Haig, Jr., Henry Kissinger, Colin Powell, and George Schultz, urged Speaker Pelosi to, “prevent the resolution from reaching the House Floor,” thereby denying House
Members an opportunity to vote their conscience on the Armenian Genocide. The former State Department officials expressed concern that passage of the resolution “could endanger our national security interests in the region, including our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, and damage efforts to promote reconciliation between Armenia and Turkey.”
Introduced on January 30th by Rep. Adam Schiff along with Representative George Radanovich (R-CA), Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Joe Knollenberg (R-MI), Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA) and Rep. Thaddeus McCotter (R-MI), the Armenian Genocide resolution calls upon the President to ensure that the foreign policy of the United States reflects appropriate understanding and sensitivity concerning issues related to human rights, ethnic cleansing, and genocide documented in the United States record relating to the Armenian Genocide. The resolution is cosponsored by 226 Members of Congress from 39 states.
A similar resolution in the Senate (S.Res.106), introduced by Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Sen. John Ensign (R-NV) currently has 31 cosponsors, including Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and presidential candidate Hillary Clinton (D-NY).
PRESISENT BUSH LAST DAYS IN OFFICE
President Bush should be treated like a two year old! Watch him at all times and don’t let him touch anything! He has a proven record of horrible judgement! Judgement that has cause the needless death of American military in Iraq! He is also was the president during the 9/11 attack. To this day the american people don’t know if he is behind the reason for the attack. By his fail policy or just horrible lack of good judgement! We do know that Bush and McCain where wrong to attack Iraq! We know that there was not proper armor purchase for the military personel in Iraq! 750 Americans could have lived if the proper armor was purchase! That is stated in the 9/11 report. President Bush and the republican party and John McCain is behind the fail policy that cause the down fall of Wall Street! President Bush will go down as the worse president in America history. John McCain will be even worse! Both are out of touch with America and the world! All this talk from the John McCain camp about Obama inexperince! Is just talk. Both McCain and Bush have over 46 years of experince in government. As many years as Obama been alive. That didn’t help them make the right judgement for the country! Bottom line both have given experince a bad name!
THE WHITE MAJORITY PROBLEM
Any time in American history where a group of whites are in the majority. Corruption discrimination hatred and lies and rumors and TheBuddy System and greed comes into play! This leads me to believe that disrespect of country and human life is taught in some white family and our education intuitions. We saw the result of white majority in Abu Ghraib where the lack of white leadership under Bush and the Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld! Failed the American people and the moral standards around the world! The white majority is behind the downfall of Wall Street in the form of ”WHITE GREED” ! The lack of white leadership in the majority is behind the many unarmed shooting of minority children as young as five and adult women as old as 92 years! This subject is never discuss on any of the white run news media shows. McCain was not push to address any problem directed in the white community! Obama did! Obama address some problem in black community to a black audience and the world! Somebody white must start to look into the minds of young whites in this country. How they are raise! What they are taught! Who is teaching them! With all the discrimination, white racism , pure hatred of non-white, Jim Crow slavery.How did it all help the white race or the country?
Joe Scarborough of morning joe is a bully and a liar! He is wrong to compare Palin racist lying comments about Obama paling around with Bill Ayers! To the comment on any level from Obama . Obama has been so respectful of Palin and McCain and their family. Outrageous that any idiot would say such a thing about a sitting Senator! John Louis was very right he lived and witness hatred first hand. He was expose to to the white racist behavoir of George Wallace. So don’t blame him if that his feeling! BLAME WHITE RACISM”’! I listen to Joe Scarborough and sometimes I as a black person hear the hatred and racist stupidity in Joe Scarborough voice! That makes me sick ! He is a Know-it all! And a bully! Ms. Brzezinski seem scared to talk and that makes her look stupid! Mr. Ford should be a shame for how stupid he sound. It like he is scared to say that Joe Scarborough is wrong and a idiot! I’m NOT ! He is a idiot!
LIES AND RUMORS MCCAIN AND PALIN
Lies and rumors is what the McCain campaign is all about! Gov. Palin is a idiot and not ready to be Vice President! But enough is enough. Our economy and the reputation of our country are at stake in this next election. Barack is honest about his faith, and is prepared to take this country in a new direction. It is clear that Sarah Palin has spent relatively little time thinking about global issues or the economy and is unprepared for the vice presidency. Though it might be interesting to have her as my Bible Study leader, I feel that God calls me to be responsible with my vote, and I need to vote for the candidate that is qualified to bring about change to our country, whose plans involve doing far more for the poor and uninsured, and who has tried to run a mature campaign.Morning joe need a lesson in whats good for the country and what is bad!
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