TURKISH PM ERDOGAN BLAMES PRESS FOR MOUNTING SOCIAL TENSION
Tert.am
13:03, 21.12.09
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s aggressiveness toward
the media reflects his mishandling of the Kurdish initiative as a
whole, say media representatives. After initially including the press
in the process, Erdogan now blames it for mounting social tension,
reports Turkish news source Hurriyet Daily News & Economic Review.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has recently been intensifying
his criticism of the media since the press, which initially supported
the government’s Kurdish initiative, has largely withdrawn its support.
"Erdogan’s relations with the media have always been problematic,"
daily Taraf columnist and academic Mithat Sancar told the Hurriyet
Daily News & Economic Review. "Of course, he can come up with
criticism against the media, but adopting such an aggressive manner
is not compatible with a democratic culture. His style is not right
or beneficial."
Recently, however, the attitude seems to have changed, as Erdogan has
turned his guns on the media, blaming its coverage for the mounting
social tension in society as social turmoil triggered by nationwide
street clashes has jeopardized the initiative.
"[Erdogan’s] recent approach to the media is just a reflection of
his general stance on the media," said Sancar. "The government can’t
manage the process in general. What the media does is necessary for
press freedom."