ARTISTS PLEDGE SUPPORT FOR DEMOCRATIC INITIATIVE

Today’s Zaman
Feb 22 2010
Turkey

Prime Minister Erdogan spoke to artists about the government’s
democratic initiative at a gathering at Dolmabahce Palace in Ä°stanbul
on Saturday.

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has asked artists to support the
government’s democratic initiative, which aims to improve standards
of democracy, freedoms and respect for human rights in Turkey.

The request has been well received, with Erdogan hosting the
country’s leading artists on Saturday for a breakfast at the Prime
Ministry’s working office and urging them to help spread the idea and
feeling behind the widely acclaimed initiative to the most distant
corners and every citizen through their work. "Your songs have the
power to transcend deaf walls. You are the heartfelt voice of this
country. I ask you to help this movement of change with your artistic
sensitivity." he said at the meeting, where 62 important names from
the Turkish world of art were present.

Among them were İbrahim Tatlıses, Bulent Ersoy, Seda Sayan, Sertap
Erener, Fatih Kısaparmak, Erol Evgin, Ferdi Tayfur, Nukhet Duru,
Kayahan, Orhan Gencebay, Arif Sag, Mustafa Sandal, Yavuz Bingöl,
Zerrin Ozer, Kenan Dogulu, Emel Sayın, NeÅ~_et ErtaÅ~_, Kırac,
Kubat, Emel Muftuoglu, Murat Gögebakan, Nilufer, Bulent Ortacgil,
Nihat Dogan, Onur Akın, Sinan Ozen, Safiye Soyman, Rojin, Mustafa
SagyaÅ~_ar, Cengiz Kurtoglu, Hakan Peker, Nuri Sesiguzel, IÅ~_ın
Karaca, Funda Arar, Zekai Tunca, AliÅ~_an, Å~^ahin Ozer, Ferhat Göcer
and Teoman.

Following the establishment of the republic, the state policy was
one of ignoring and denying differences. This policy persisted long
thereafter. But Turkey in recent years has come to a point at which a
more pluralistic approach has been adopted by the government towards
the people. As a reflection of this change at the administrative level,
the democratic initiative was given momentum by the ruling Justice
and Development Party (AK Party) last year to elevate democratic
standards and extend freedoms as well as to better comply with the
contemporary understanding of human rights in the country.

PM Erdogan meets with famous artists, including Emel Sayın (R),
Muazzez Ersoy (second from right) and Orhan Gencebay (third from right)
to support the government’s democratic initiative.

In order not to allow it to fall victim to political bickering, Erdogan
and his government embarked on an effort to broaden the appeal of the
project and to make it supra political. Interior Minister BeÅ~_ir
Atalay previously had talks with leading academics and journalists
while trying to determine concrete steps to be taken as part of the
project. The prime minister’s meeting with artists was the most recent
of such moves.

Erdogan addressed the audience during the event and asked them to
put their hearts into the initiative, which he believes will bring
a much brighter future for Turkey. "I believe neither flying bullets
nor political orations can suppress and draw limits to your tunes. You
are the ones who will understand a mother’s scream the best. You are
the ones to feel from the heart the pain of a youngster who gets shot
and falls to the ground, no matter where he is. You have cemented
our brotherhood through your songs and you will again be the ones who
will ensure that this country will have brighter days," he stressed.

Participating artists echoed similar feelings after Erdogan’s address
and offered their support for the initiative’s success.

Bingöl said he did not vote for the AK Party but backs the
government’s project. "My world view may not be the same as yours,
but I support you in this matter. Please do not lose anything from
your courage," he said. Composer and lyricist Ozdemir Erdogan told
the audience that his mother is of Armenian origin and that his father
is from the Black Sea region, a multiethnic family composition which
he said is very common in Turkey. "Differences coexisted here in
this country peacefully for ages," he commented. Commending current
developments, leading pop music singer Ozer stressed that she was,
as an Alevi, very happy to see Turkey going in that direction, too.

Justice and equality were common aspirations at the meeting. While most
participants drew attention to the fact that Turkey suffered enough
because of domestic quarrels, they all called on everyone to unite in
order to not allow another drop of blood to be spilled in the country.

Duru, Evgin and Soyman said the meeting was very positive and that
they were satisfied with what Prime Minister Erdogan had said. Having
sat next to Kurdish singer Rojin, Ozen said he wanted the country’s
ability to hold differences together to continue. Rojin also left the
meeting pleased. "Let’s sing our songs in every language altogether,"
was her wish. Gencebay, Arar and Peker joined those who said pain
would come to an end as the country becomes more united around common
desires while there is a political will to translate this desire into
concrete action.

The meeting, which became a venue for a sincere exchange of views and
feelings, ended with pledges on both sides to take a more courageous
and united stand against bloodshed.