Orkhan Sattarov, the head of the European Bureau of Vestnik Kavkaza
German mass media discusses the visit by German President Joachim Gauck to Turkey. During the visit he heavily criticized the government of Recep Erdogan. At a meeting with Turkish students in Ankara Gauck accused the Turkish authorities of censorship of Internet, criticized the reform of justice, which is taking place in the country, and many other disadvantages which prevent establishing of the rule of law in Turkey, according to him.
The German President urged the Turkish authorities to protect the independence of courts and the mass media. “Today I ask myself: how much is independence of the mass media and judicial bodies guaranteed in Turkey, when the government replaces unwanted police officers and prosecutors and prevents them from fair investigations?” Gauck said. “I should say I’m horrified at the restriction of freedom of speech. We are concerned about the restriction of Internet and social nets’ access in Turkey,” German President continued. Finally Joachim Gauck dared compare dictatorship in the former the GDR with the current tendencies in the Turkish stated. “I don’t want to interfere with Turkish internal affairs. However, as a democrat who used to live in such a totalitarian state as the GDR, I will always point out threats for the rule of law, even when it concerns a foreign state,” Gauck said.
Later German President tried to soften his own rhetoric and noted that his statements should be considered as a piece of advice, as Germany is open for criticism as well. “For example, the investigation of a murder of citizens of Turkish origin by activists of the German national socialist underground,” Gauck recalled. He remembers that the Turkish won’t keep silent, when they are tutored. Earlier at the meeting with Turkish President Abdullah Gul Gauck said: “Why did such a strong government as yours need putting pressure on judicial bodies?” “Nobody is perfect,” Gul replied and reminded the German about the criminal negligence of German special services and the police who didn’t pay attention to the long-lasting activity of the fascist underground of Germany, members of which regularly murdered migrants in various cities of Germany.
Gauck tried to compensate the heavy criticism of the government by praising the Turkish economy. The German President also appreciated the progress in the process of Turkish-Kurdish peacemaking, weakening of the militaries’ influence in the internal policy of the state, the role of Turkey in providing necessities of Syrian refugees, and a recent address by the Turkish Premier to successors of the Turkish Armenians who died in the events of 1915 in the Ottoman Empire.
Official Ankara hasn’t responded Gauck’s speech yet. However, the successful Turkish Prime Minister is hardly going to swallow the bitter democratic pill from German President. Berlin cannot restore its influence in Turkey by empty speeches on democracy and human rights, as Ankara has no illusions on joining the EU.
