Turkish Daily News
Feb 16 2005

PM should visit the ‘Turks’ exhibition

Mehmet Ali Birand:
Wednesday, February 16, 2005

When the Europeans think about Turks, the first things that springs
to their minds are images of mistreatment, torture, violation of
rights or domestic and foreign military interventions. Most of the
news they see coming out of Turkey is full of negative information.

In cultural terms, they see us as almost non-existent.

At a time when we face such a mammoth image problem, as luck would
have it, a world-renowned artistic institution, London’s Royal
Academy of Arts, is holding an extremely popular exhibition entitled:
“Turks.”

The exhibition is an account of our past.

It is a step-by-step journey across the milestones of Turkish
history, and it is currently amongst the most talked about cultural
events in Europe.

People have started to take an interest in Turkey and Turkish
culture as a result of our dealings with the E.U. combined with the
lure of the prestigious Royal Academy it has caused a wave of
interest.

The exhibition was due to have been opened by Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdoðan himself. The Turkish prime minister was supposed to
visit Britain for the day and the event would have been a significant
public relations victory for Turkey.

Some people in Ankara (I was told it was the Foreign Ministry, but
I don’t want to believe that) objected to this.

They told Erdoðan: “Sir, when you arrive, either the British prime
minister, or the foreign secretary at the very least, should be with
you during you visit the to the exhibition to demonstrate respect for
a visiting head-of-state. However, if they are not there, it would be
seen as most improper for you to visit the exhibition alone.”

Can you just imagine the mentality of such a recommendation? This
important exhibition is to be visited and our bureaucrats are only
thinking about official protocol rules. Instead of telling Erdoðan:
“You can meet the British prime minister or the foreign secretary
some other time, but this exhibition really can’t be missed,” they
prevented him from going at all. Meanwhile, the exhibition has turned
out to be a resounding success.

People are flocking from all over Europe to visit it. According to
figures given to me, around 10,000 people visit it a day. They plan
to take the exhibition to Paris and then New York afterwards.

Ankara just remains silent on the subject.

The Turkish Administration didn’t give a single cent to the
exhibition. Thank god the private sector was more mature and provided
funding to make sure it happened.

The exhibition will finish at the end of March.

What we would expect is Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoðan to make
the time to visit it before it closes. It would provide a tremendous
boost to promoting this country abroad. He should go to London on a
prearranged visit with every newspaper notified beforehand. It should
become a real occasion.

Just ignore the absence of Tony Blair.

Erdoðan must understand the boost to public awareness such a visit
would bring.

Why shouldn’t Pamuk say what he thinks?

Extreme nationalist media outlets have made novelist Orhan Pamuk
their new hate-figure.

He implied that Turks killed Armenians and Kurds and this has
caused a commotion.

Who is Pamuk?

He is an internationally renowned Turkish novelist. He was
celebrated in this country up until recently and is one of the first
individuals people remember when they talk about Turkey. He is not an
official state spokesman or a government representative. In other
words, his words carry no official weight. He is just talking about
his own opinions.

What the reason behind this attack?

Don’t people have the right to say what they think, no matter
whether they’re right or wrong? Will Turkey be sent to the
International Court, just because Orhan Pamuk made these allegations?
Will the United Nations use Pamuk as a witness and demand
compensation from Turkey?

No.

If you don’t agree with what Pamuk’ opinions, just say it. Why this
“lynching mentality?”

Gentlemen, this is the gap between us and the rest of the civilized
world (by which I mean the western world, especially the EU). We are
yet to fully embrace freedom of expression. We have adjusted most of
our laws in line with the Copenhagen criteria to be closer to Europe,
but now that I reflect on it, we as a people are still very far from
adopting an attitude compatible with theirs.

We need to get used to respecting differences of opinions, no
matter how irritating they are.

I don’t agree with what Pamuk said, but I defend his right to say
them.

What was done to him is a shame.

It is outdated.

–Boundary_(ID_J2mkWZ3QsQfr/FNWVmRt8Q)–