Ambassadorial visit to Cumhuriyet delivers clear message

Western diplomatic missions in Ankara imparted a message in a visit they made to Cumhuriyet on World Press Freedom Day. Alongside numerous EU ambassadors, diplomats from countries allied to Turkey such as the USA, Canada, Norway and Switzerland made a mass visit to Cumhuriyet’s Ankara Office. With Head of the EU Delegation to Turkey, Christian Berger, noting, “To enable us to show our solidarity, we especially made our visit coincide with the 3 May World Press Freedom Day,” Cumhuriyet Executive Board Chair Akın Atalay, who walked out of prison a week ago, went on to comment, “The law and justice cannot prevail where there is fear. We, too, are afraid at the penalties handed down to us, but we have a difference. We have a bigger fear than this fear. We are obliged to submit to it. And this fear of ours is of deceiving the people, betraying journalism and passing into history as bad journalists.”

 Executive Board Chair Akın Atalay and Ankara Representative Erdem Gül received diplomatic missions to Ankara along with a large number of ambassadors and chargés d'affaires. Alongside Berger, diplomats from Canada, Portugal, the UK, Greece and Bulgaria took part in the visit, in which there was participation at ambassadorial level by Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Ireland, Estonia, Luxembourg, Austria, Slovenia and Norway and at chargé d'affaires level by the USA, Netherlands, Finland, Denmark, Croatia, Sweden and Switzerland.

 With Erdem Gül wishing in the opening address he made that the next meeting would take place on a day on which the media in Turkey was free, Head of the EU Delegation to Turkey, Christian Berger, imparted the following message:

 “We especially made this visit of ours coincide with the third of May which is World Press Freedom Day and we particularly chose your paper to enable us to show our solidarity. Among those visiting you today are not just EU representatives, but our colleagues from the USA, Switzerland and Norway are here. We have consequently brought you not just the EU’s support, but the support of the entire West. Today, we convey our sense of solidarity on the occasion of Press Freedom Day.”

 Ambassador Berger, also reading the statement EU High Representative Mogherini made on the occasion of Press Freedom Day, pointed out that the freedom of press and expression was under threat and stressed that freedom of expression was indispensable for the union.

 Cumhuriyet Executive Board Chair Akın Atalay, recalling that he was in his first week of freedom, said the following:

 “I am aware of the symbolic importance of your visit, given that today is World Press Freedom Day. We see this as being very significant support given to our approach to and stance on journalism.”

 Our fear is of deceiving the people

 Atalay, pointing out that, in the proceedings against Cumhuriyet, Cumhuriyet was essentially being prosecuted for its publishing activity rather than the headlines and news reports cited in the indictment, continued as follows:

 “There is huge duress on journalists in Turkey, just as there is on other circles. A massive climate of fear has been created. The law and justice cannot prevail where there is fear. We, too, are afraid at the penalties handed down to us, but we have a difference. We have a bigger fear than this fear. We are obliged to submit to it. And this fear of ours is of deceiving the people, betraying journalism and passing into history as bad journalists. And, so, we do not surrender and will continue to write the truth in an air of self-confidence.”

 Visit to Cumhuriyet by Belgian Ambassador

 Belgium’s Ambassador to Ankara Michel Malherbe and Istanbul Consul General Sophie De Smedt visited Cumhuriyet. Ambassador Malherbe, who spoke to Cumhuriyet Foundation Chair Orhan Erinç, our Editor-in-Chief Murat Sabuncu, Executive Board member Önder Çelik and Editor Bülent Özdoğan, said that they were closely monitoring developments in the Cumhuriyet trial and this was why they chose 3 May World Press Freedom Day for the visit.

http://www.cumhuriyet.com.tr/haber/turkiye/968701/Cumhuriyet_e_gelen_elcilerden_net_mesaj.html