Head of Communications Altun stated that "From the very first day of the peaceful demonstrations, we have consistently supported solutions rooted in peace and justice for Syria. We remain committed to our policies that prioritise peace, freedom, and justice. For Türkiye, the stability and security of Syria and the free will of the Syrian people will remain a top priority."
The Presidency's Head of Communications Fahrettin Altun addressed the "Crisis Communication Workshop" event held at the Directorate of Communications.
Referring to a conversation with a journalist who said, "What we consume in a day, a foreign colleague can only consume in a year," Head of Communications Altun noted that, although exaggerated, the statement does reflect a part of reality.
Head of Communications Altun highlighted that on top of earthquakes, forest fires, flood disasters, and terrorist attacks, conflicts, and wars that are occurring in the immediate region, as well as humanitarian crises caused by all of these events, there are crises of global justice and truth exacerbating the crises and continued, "In such an environment, we desire to tackle crisis communication with subject matter experts by employing an academic and strategic perspective, inform and raise public awareness on the significance of crisis communication, and update our crisis communication strategies based on novel requirements."
Head of Communications Altun stated that their objective was to disclose the most effective strategies for combating disinformation that exacerbates crises and for safely disseminating accurate information to national and international publics at the appropriate time during times of crisis.
"A three-stage process"
Head of Communications Altun explained that crisis communication consists of a three-stage process, namely pre-crisis, in-crisis, and post-crisis, involving the pre-identification and analysis of situations that may cause a crisis, determining strategies to be implemented during the crisis, and initiatives that minimise the economic damages of the crisis. He also added that an effective communication strategy must entail all three stages. Head of Communications Altun stated that when crises faced by the people are effectively managed, a sense of safety and peace will proliferate among the public, whereas when mismanaged, public outrage and panic ensue, and continued, "In this context, crisis communication is vital to ensure public order, public health, and national security. It is essential for both social welfare and peace."
Noting that robust coordination among public institutions, private sector, and non-governmental organisations is critical for effective crisis communication, Head of Communications Altun remarked:
"Since its establishment, the Presidency's Directorate of Communications has worked diligently to implement an effective coordination process in the realm of crisis communication. With the Strategic Communication and Crisis Management Department established within our Directorate, we are fighting to counter black propaganda activities and psychological warfare operations occurring in the media. We are striving to accurately inform the public through coordination with relevant public institutions, especially in times of crisis and disaster. We strive to ensure that the public receives accurate information by facilitating live and effective coordination between members of the press, who convey the truth to the public during times of crisis and disaster, with the relevant actors and stakeholders. We are aware that members of the press inundated with unreliable information from sources such as social media are more harmful than useful. We recognise that it is crucial for members of the press to swiftly receive the most accurate information from public institutions and organisations amid critical situations and crisis environments and strive to serve as a bridge in all these processes. We are working to ensure that public institutions and organisations are in coordination with members of the press in the most efficient and effective manner possible. We are trying to ease the work of members of the press through sharing the information, organising field visits, and providing accreditations in this context. We are making all this effort to reveal the truth and ensure that our people receive accurate information. Once more, through the Centre for Combating Disinformation established within our Directorate, we combat disinformation campaigns, especially with bulletins targeting systematically manufactured fake news in times of crisis, while working to enhance the resilience of public opinion against them as well as contribute to equipping our citizens with accurate information."
"Raising social awareness is vital"
Head of Communications Altun stated that raising social awareness is vital in the context of crisis communication and continued as follows:
"By organising international events within the scope of Crisis Information Management and Public Relations in Natural Disasters, we share our experiences and strive to raise the international public awareness regarding disaster diplomacy as an application area of public diplomacy. Moreover, we publicise the outcomes of the Disaster Communication Symposium and Disaster Communication Forum, which we organised as part of the process, for the benefit of our stakeholders and our nation. Additionally, with our Türkiye National Risk Shield Model, we have taken an important step towards raising public awareness in the field of crisis communication. We host Crisis Communication in Times of Disaster Hackathons for the purpose of finding innovative ideas that would enable determining the communication channels during the interventions to be made in the crisis, disaster, and emergency management processes, as well as establishing harmonious communication between stakeholders. Furthermore, we regularly organise 'crisis communication exercises with the participation of representatives from all involved stakeholder public institutions' every year, such as the workshops and exercises to be held at our Directorate today and tomorrow. Through these efforts, we want to raise awareness on crisis communication, primarily, of course, in our public institutions, and then in the private sector and civil society."
"The importance of combating disinformation cannot be disregarded"
Underscoring that in communication processes in times of crisis, the importance of media literacy and combating disinformation cannot be disregarded, Head of Communications Altun said: "The presence of individuals who have high awareness of truth, media literacy, and resilience against disinformation would prevent crises from damaging public order, public health, national security, social welfare, and peace."
Highlighting that the Directorate of Communications has been making intensive efforts to the point of raising media literacy awareness in public opinion and combating systematic disinformation campaigns, Head of Communications Altun expressed that they are paying utmost attention to undertaking this on both national and international levels. Head of Communications Altun explained that they have developed means and methods to help distinguish between "truth" and "lies," "accurate information" and "misinformation" with a proactive approach in both conventional and digital media, especially in the context of crisis communication. Noting that they are overturning the games of evil forces, who try to deepen crises as well as create an environment of public outrage, polarisation, chaos, and fear with fake audiovisual content, often generated via the state-of-the-art technologies, which are among the serious issues of humanity as a whole today, through exposing with the help of state-of-the-art technologies, Head of Communications Altun said that they are pleased to observe that the model of Combating Disinformation put forward by Türkiye is showcased as an example in academic and political circles on the international arena today.
Head of Communications Altun stated, "I would like to underline very clearly that honesty and transparency stand as the paramount elements of crisis communication. We believe that the primary communication strategy is to convey the truth to the public in a straightforward and transparent manner. It is essential to have faith in the power of truth and honesty. Regardless of the crisis we face, we firmly believe that delivering accurate information to our citizens with utmost transparency is the best strategy. We derive this strategy from the political communication vision of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan."
In this context, the Head of Communications, Altun, informed the audience about the organisation of disaster prevention projects, early warning and analysis systems, civil protection drills, preparedness initiatives, expert exchange programmes, workshops, and pieces of training, including today's event, under the auspices of the Presidency's Directorate of Communications.
"They can be even more destructive"
Asserting that discussions of crises should not be limited to natural disasters, the Head of Communications, Altun, stated, "Regrettably, humanitarian crises can occasionally be as devastating as natural disasters; they can even be more destructive. Today, humanity faces significant depressions and challenges due to wars, terrorism, migration surges, food crises, and health crises that have emerged on the global stage."
Concerning the situation in Syria, Head of Communications Altun stated that Syria has experienced one of the most major humanitarian crises in modern history for 13 years, resulting in nearly 1 million casualties, 12 million displaced individuals, and thousands of innocent lives lost in the Mediterranean and Aegean Seas while seeking refuge. Expressing that cities, sanctuaries, and historical structures have been destroyed and the country has experienced savage proxy wars, Head of Communications Altun continued:
"Different forms of terrorism have flourished there. As is often the case, it is the oppressed who endure the greatest suffering. Thankfully, the 13-year-long oppression came to an end thanks to the resolute efforts of our Syrian brothers and sisters, and the Baath regime was dismantled. Over the past 13 years, Türkiye has been one of the international actors most profoundly impacted by the Syrian crisis. Türkiye has been the primary target of terrorist attacks originating from Syria, as well as the influx of migrants from the very same country. Elements seeking to instigate chaos and instability in Türkiye and to engage in a war of attrition against Türkiye viewed and abused Syria as a significant resource. This process posed significant risks and threats to our country's national security, politics, economy, and social peace. Nevertheless, Türkiye, under the leadership of our President, has never given up seeking a solution to the Syrian crisis.
We tried to put an end to the bloodshed in Syria by employing a combination of hard and soft power elements. We have established new diplomatic channels, including the United Nations mechanisms and the Astana process. Furthermore, we stood alone in our fight against terrorist organisations. To eliminate terrorism at its source, we launched strong military operations against it while taking the whole world against us. While doing all this, we embraced millions of innocent and oppressed individuals fleeing persecution and war. Our country has emerged as a safe harbour for these oppressed people. Serving as the moral compass of the world, we have always considered the atrocities endured by our Syrian brothers and sisters from a humanitarian viewpoint. Therefore, we did not turn our backs on them, nor could we ever do so. In this regard, we have demonstrated our hospitality to our Syrian brothers and sisters by refraining from adopting an attitude that is contrary to Islamic and humane principles. We have done what our faith and the principles of neighbourly relations require of us."
Quoting President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's words from his address to the nation after the Cabinet Meeting last night, Head of Communications Altun stated, "For 13 years, we have been hosting the Syrian Muhajirs, a group whose numbers previously reached 3 million 700 thousand, but have now decreased to 2.9 million. I frankly express that we did not do so out of reluctance or grievance but with a deep sense of duty, guided by both our faith and the principles of good neighbourly relations. This unprecedented hospitality will surely be etched in golden letters in the annals of human history. Türkiye has managed to pass a difficult test with flying colors during a challenging period."
Head of Communications Altun conveyed that President Erdoğan, as the representative of Türkiye's strong and rightful stance, articulated the nation's justified stance to the global audience with clarity, pride, and strength in his address yesterday.
Head of Communications Altun stated, "Our government is committed to implementing the essential measures to facilitate the dignified, safe, voluntary, and systematic return of Syrian refugees to their homeland. At this juncture, we, as Türkiye, will oversee this voluntary, safe, dignified and orderly return process in a way that reflects our rich history, cultural values, and moral principles."
"We will persist in our commitment to policies that foster peace, freedom, and justice"
Stating that after 13 years, the Baath regime, which governed the country with oppression and cruelty for over 60 years, was brought to an end, marking the beginning of a new chapter in Syria as of December 8, Head of Communications Altun said:
"In line with the statements made by our President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, we are committed to fostering the unity and territorial integrity of Syria through a unitary state structure that encompasses all ethnic and religious communities. As we have stood by the side of solution, peace, and justice in Syria since the beginning of the peaceful protests, we shall persist in our commitment to policies that foster peace, liberty, and fairness. From here on, ensuring the stability and security of Syria and the freedom of the Syrian people is Türkiye's top priority. And, of course, in this endeavour, our nation will undoubtedly continue moving forward under the guidance of our President, who is committed to fostering constructive engagement and collaboration with all stakeholders, especially regional actors. In our capacity as the Directorate of Communications, we remain committed to addressing the ongoing disinformation campaigns targeting Syria and Syrian asylum-seekers, both within our borders and on the global stage, as we did in the past and will continue to do so in the future. We will strive to establish effective public communication strategies that ensure the dignified, safe, voluntary, and orderly return of our Syrian guests."
Highlighting that through these endeavours, the Presidency's Directorate of Communications has worked diligently to ensure that Türkiye navigates national, regional, and global challenges and provocations effectively, especially in the realm of crisis communication, Head of Communications Altun remarked the following:
"Our President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan personally laid the foundations for the Century of Türkiye, which he defined as the century of 'Communication, the Rightful, Power, Values, Achievements, Digitalisation, Science, Peace, Productivity, Production, Compassion, Sustainability, Development, Stability, Harmony, and Future' under 16 main titles. To ensure that the Century of Türkiye takes root and influences the world, we will endeavour to manage these processes with greater effectiveness, enhancing our resilience and strength in the face of crises."