Presidency's Director of Communications Fahrettin Altun attended the "Awakening from the Nostalgic Dream of the 1960s Exhibition" hosted by the Ankara Culture, Art, and Civilization Association and supported by our Directorate.
After viewing the exhibition at the Ankara Art Gallery and Auction House and obtaining insights about the artworks, Director of Communications Altun made a statement to the press.
Stating that the exhibition, which they supported as the Presidency's Directorate of Communications, contributes to understanding the social, political and economic life of the period, Director of Communications Altun pointed out that a 1970s-themed exhibition had previously been held.
Recalling that the 1960s were a period when many changes and transformations began to occur in the world, Director of Communications Altun stated that during this time, serious steps were taken to spread Western consumption culture around the globe, and traditions and values were destroyed in the name of "cultural revolution."
Noting that, during this period, Western consumption culture gradually entered Türkiye and the country's dependency in terms of the economy grew, Director of Communications Altun said, "Unfortunately, the 1960s were a period in Türkiye when social fault lines were deepened with ideologies imported from the West. When we think back on the 1970s, we primarily recall right-wing and left-wing conflicts. In this sense, however, the 1960s were essentially the beginning of the conflictual era."
Pointing out that the seeds of the ruptures in the fault lines, whose effects are still felt in various ways today and with which contemporary politics is struggling, were sown during this period, Director of Communications Altun stated that fault lines were introduced from the outside.
Remarking that the tutelage, whose seeds were sown in the 1960s, left Turkish politics in a precarious position in the long term, Director of Communications Altun said, "In this sense, the 1960s were the period in Turkish politics when tutelage was institutionalised. The unfortunate event that marked the beginning of the 1960s was the May 27 coup. In fact, the coup of May 27 and its aftermath caused a significant change in Türkiye's political life."
Recalling that not only did a tutelage emerge with the coup perpetrated by the Armed Forces during this period but also a tutelage in the media, universities, and the highest judiciary, Director of Communications Altun emphasised that this, like the "sword of Damocles," had a long-lasting impact on democratic politics.
"This was eliminated with a determined approach"
Indicating that a Prime Minister, a Minister of Foreign Affairs, and a Minister of Finance elected by the will of the people were executed during the May 27 coup and that great atrocities were committed during this period, Director of Communications Altun recalled that with this coup, it was considered that politics could be interfered with at various points in Turkish politics, and within this framework, this was carried out on March 12, September 12, and February 28, and a blow was struck against the elected will of the people.
Noting that with the developments after 2002 and the determined political struggle carried out by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, great achievements were obtained in the context of the fight against tutelage in Türkiye, Director of Communications Altun noted:
"We can see this achievement most clearly in the 'e-memorandum' incident, in the staunch opposition to the 'e-memorandum. With the e-memorandum, the Armed Forces attempted to somehow interfere with the course of democratic politics in Türkiye, but this was eliminated with our President's determined approach. In this sense, the greatest effort was put forth, and the most powerful punch was delivered for the protection of democracy and the will of the people on July 15, 2016. As of July 15, 2016, it has been established unequivocally and clearly that non-democratic and tutelage elements cannot interfere with politics in Türkiye. Our President's words at that time, 'I do not recognise a power above the will of the people', his 'calling on the nation to take to the streets, squares, join the resistance', and the nation responding to this call and putting up a very strong resistance have proven that non-democratic and tutelage elements cannot find a place for themselves in Türkiye.”
Director of Communications Altun underlined that a group's, a junta's attempts to interfere in politics, the destiny of society, and the nation, whenever they want cost the country heavily and said that Türkiye had been made a buttress to the Western-dependent colonial order and suffered in the long term.
"It is important to understand the past to understand the present"
Stating that President Erdoğan's struggle was a struggle to relieve this pain, to get Türkiye out of this dependency system, and to liberate it, Director of Communications Altun said:
"At this point, Türkiye has made great gains. Today, Türkiye is an island of stability and also a stabilising power. Today, Türkiye is a global actor with a strong influence on global developments and a well-regarded voice when it comes to global crises. This is, above all, an achievement of Türkiye's democratisation efforts under the leadership of our President since 2002. If this battle for democratisation had not been waged, then Türkiye would not have been able to put forward this performance as an effective regional power and as a global actor. Therefore, the quality of democracy in Türkiye and the point at which democratisation has reached in Türkiye are extremely valuable. It is very important to understand the past and recent history to understand the present."
Pointing out that there was a section with the title "disinformation" in the Exhibition, Director of Communications Altun said that it was clearly seen how the newspapers systematically produced disinformation on the way to the May 27 coup, which led to great massacres.
"Disinformation is an evil with noticeable effects"
Stating that the disinformation they were fighting today was an evil with noticeable effects on Türkiye's political history, Director of Communications Altun stated that coups were carried out in Türkiye based on disinformation and systematic fake news and that massacres were attempted to be justified.
Director of Communications Altun stated that those who produced the disinformation were cut from the same cloth as those who carried out these coups and underlined that this was a true enmity against democracy, the people and the nation.
Emphasising that the battle they waged today, shouting "long live the truth", was the battle for democracy, Director of Communications Altun said, "Our efforts against disinformation are a battle we wage to safeguard the will of the nation, and we will continue to wage this battle within the framework of the vision set by our President."
