Booklets delivered on jailed journalists

ANKARA

Booklets were delivered to Turkish embassy in foreign capitals, FM says. AA photo

Turkey has launched an information campaign in capitals around the world to clarify the situation regarding imprisoned journalists in the country, following several criticisms of the Turkish government.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry and Justice Ministry prepared a joint project of booklets outlining the reasons behind sentences given to journalists imprisoned in the country, according to Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu.

The booklets were delivered in the last three months to each Turkish embassy in foreign capitals, Davutoğlu said yesterday while speaking at the Institute of Strategic Thinking (SDE).

The minister admitted that foreign officials abroad sometimes asked about the imprisoned journalists in Turkey.

“We delivered booklets providing information – one by one – on the journalists who were sentenced due to their journalistic activities, and the ones who were imprisoned due to other reasons,” Davutoğlu said.

Davutoğlu rejected criticisms about “suspended” democratic reforms in Turkey after prior steps the government had taken in the first couple of years of its rule. Citing the party closure case against the Justice and Development Party (AKP) in 2008, the minister noted, “Nobody can pursue the closing of a political party at the moment.”

He did not believe democracy in Turkey was going back a step, instead, he claimed the country has made significant progress.

He stressed that freedom of expression should have no limits, other than outrage.

The most important revolution in releasing Turkish politics from slavery happened two years ago in the referendum to change the Constitution, the minister said.

Additionally, Davutoğlu announced that Turkey would be an observer in the Arctic Council, expressing Turkey’s intention to be a member of all international organizations.

Turkey has also taken its biggest foreign policy risk in calling on the former President of Egypt, Hosni Mubarak, to resign, Davutoğlu said.