HÜRRIYET: Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan should not threaten the media who write negative stories about him, Turkey-EU Joint Parliamentary Commission Co-Chairman Joost Lagendijk said Tuesday, assessing the statements of the prime minister who targeted the Dogan Media Group.
The style adopted by the leaders in such problems should not reach the level of threats, Lagendijk told Turkey's Milliyet on Tuesday.
Erdogan's fierce criticism of the Dogan Media organs that have been publishing reports about an ongoing government-linked fraud case has heightened tension in Turkey recently.
A prime minister should not opt for blackmail or suppression of the media, Lagendijk was quoted by Milliyet as saying.
"Media criticism over politicians is a part of political life. Especially if you are a prime minister, you must become accustomed to this," he said.
"If you think that media published false news about you, the way to solve this is clear. You go to the court," he added.
Non-governmental organizations (NGOs), including the Turkish Journalists Association (TGC) and the Confederation of Revolutionary Workers’ Unions (DISK), also backed the Dogan Media Group on Monday, saying Erdogan's remarks brought to the agenda the risks to democracy in the country. [Source: HÜRRIYET] | September 9, 2008
HÜRRIYET:
Turkey’s Largest Media Group Refuses to Bow to Government Pressure: The owner of Turkey's largest media group, Dogan Group, said the government is attempting to blackmail the company, adding if they want the group to submit, that is not going to happen. Erdogan's remarks brought the risks to freedom of expression to the agenda again, said the Turkish Journalists Association (TGC).
Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan furiously slammed the Dogan Group for publishing news stories on an ongoing fraud case in Germany, with alleged links to the government and the premier, instead of opening investigation into the claims. >>> | September 9, 2008
HÜRRIYET:
Ertugrul Ozkok: I am offering a deal to the Turkish Prime Minister >>> | September 9, 2008
FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE ZEITUNG:
Betrugsprozess: Spendenskandal in Frankfurt strahlt auf Erdogan aus : Der türkische Ministerpräsident Recep Tayyip Erdogan gerät im Zusammenhang mit einem Frankfurter Prozess um einen Spendenskandal politisch unter Druck. Die oppositionelle Republikanische Volkspartei (CHP) fordere Aufklärung von Vorwürfen, in Deutschland veruntreute Gelder in Höhe von mehr als 18 Millionen Euro seien im Umfeld von Erdogans islamisch-konservativer Regierungspartei AKP gelandet, berichteten türkische Medien am Dienstag. Vor dem Frankfurter Landgericht läuft derzeit ein Prozess gegen drei ehemalige Funktionäre des islamischen Wohltätigkeitsvereins „Deniz Feneri“ (Leuchtturm). Sie haben die Veruntreuung von Geldern vor Gericht bereits zugegeben.
Erdogan hat unterdessen jede Verwicklung seiner Partei in den Fall bestritten. Er kritisierte die türkische Mediengruppe „Dogan“ für Berichte über den Spendenskandal und mögliche Verbindungen zur AKP. Die Berichte seien Reaktion auf Entscheidung der Regierung, die wirtschaftliche Interessen der „Dogan“-Gruppe störten. >>> FAZ.NET mit dpa | 09.September 2008
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