Head of Communications Fahrettin Altun remarked: "The most apparent takeaway from the situation is that no application to the Presidency's Communication Centre (CİMER) is ignored or swept under the rug."
Presidency's Head of Communications Prof Fahrettin Altun responded to questions on the agenda during an interview with Mynet.
Emphasising that the investigation into the "Newborn Gang" was initiated after the complaint was forwarded to the relevant authorities via CİMER, Head of Communications Altun said, "We diligently review each application submitted to CİMER and promptly alert the relevant authorities. The said complaint was first submitted to CİMER on March 27, 2023. That same day, we brought this complaint to the attention of the Ministry of Health."
Head of Communications Altun went on to say that the application was received during a time when 200 to 250 thousand applications were submitted every day and that even during that time, the application was promptly forwarded to the relevant government branch, adding:
"On March 28, the Ministry of Health forwarded the complaint to its internal Inspection Board, which forwarded it to the Istanbul Provincial Directorate of Health, and on March 31, the complaint was passed to the Private Hospitals Unit of the Provincial Directorate of Health. On April 28, we informed the complainant via CİMER that their complaint had been referred to the relevant authorities.
As our Minister of Health explained, this was how the process went. Thankfully, we have arrived at this trial stage based on the outcome of the investigations conducted by the relevant Ministries. The most apparent takeaway from the situation is that no application to the Presidency's Communication Centre (CİMER) is ignored or swept under the rug. No application submitted to the system may be deleted, and every application undergoes extensive scrutiny before being sent to the relevant authorities.
"CİMER received over 7.5 million applications in the aftermath of the earthquake on February 6"
Speaking about how CİMER operates, Head of Communications Altun stated that rapid state-nation engagement has become feasible in light of the opportunities that technology offers.
Head of Communications Altun stated that CİMER serves a crucial role in state-nation communication by enabling the public to promptly voice their complaints, wishes, and demands to the relevant authority, adding:
"The favour that Turkish people have shown to CİMER is the most concrete evidence that it is an effective and efficient mechanism. Let us recall the fact that in 2023, CİMER received over 7.5 million applications in the aftermath of the earthquake on February 6. On certain days in three to four months following the earthquake, we received 250 to 300 thousand applications. Over the course of the period, we received an average of 75 thousand applications per day. It is easier to comprehend the magnitude of the figures I have provided when one considers that the daily average is approximately 15 thousand during routine days.
We made an effort to serve our country around the clock at that time. CİMER received approximately 3.5 million applications during the first 10 to 11 months of this year. By the end of the year, this number will have somewhat increased. "I would like to stress the fact that occasionally, individuals who are unhappy with the existence of CİMER or who do not believe that the relationship established by our state with its nation is in alignment with their interests, attempt to instil a belief in the public that the applications are not answered, read, or considered."
"Every application is reviewed by two of our colleagues"
Head of Communications Altun indicated that these beliefs are unfounded in reality, saying:
"Every application is reviewed by two of our colleagues and promptly forwarded to the relevant authorities. Not only do we forward them, but we also periodically inform the relevant unit on the most frequently complained-about issues at each of our institutions. This approach ensures coordination in the swift improvement of the public service that is the subject of the complaint, as well as the prevention of duplicate complaints. A selection of such situations is included in the book 'CİMER'le Çözüme Kavuşanlar' (Resolved through CİMER)," which has been published in two volumes. We are presently in the process of completing the third volume."
Combating disinformation
In response to a question concerning the role of communication in the global world and the dynamics of strategic communication, Head of Communications Altun stated that globalisation and communication are two important processes that reinforce and expedite one another.
Head of Communications Altun went on to say that the most useful instruments of globalisation in use today are communication technologies, including the internet, social media, smartphones, videoconferencing systems, digital platforms, and artificial intelligence-based applications, adding:
"A significant portion of the global population can access and make use of all of these technologies, which enables individuals to exchange perspectives on collective issues affecting humanity or possible opportunities and engage in sociocultural interactions. These are all, of course, positive aspects of globalisation and the role of communication in the world. On the other side of the spectrum, communication technologies, their pervasiveness, and the limitless growth of data and information generation pose their dilemmas. To begin with, the truth is unfortunately not as valued as it once was. In other words, rather than the truth, people value information that is useful, popular, and aligned with their interests. Lies and distortions have become more commonplace and pervasive than ever. We are also dealing with politics of lies worldwide. Fake news, misinformation, and their spread are quickly emerging as the modern-day disease."
"Public diplomacy and soft power"
Head of Communications Altun emphasised that the fundamental principle of strategic communication for Türkiye is to uphold the truth, transparency, and national wishes in all situations.
Head of Communications Altun stated that the Directorate is focused on ensuring that Türkiye's resources and potentials are recognised for the value they deserve, adding, "Our geopolitical position, national, regional, and international policy priorities, as well as our public diplomacy and soft power instruments we develop to support these priorities, are critical components of our strategic communication approach. Furthermore, planning and capacity building are critical for effectively responding to communications threats and challenges. To this aim, we are proposing concrete strategies and instruments for effectively combating disinformation and fake news."
Digitalisation
Head of Communications Altun defined digital terrorism as all hostile operations that take place in the virtual world and aim to achieve their objectives through digital platforms, in contrast to known terrorist activities.
Head of Communications Altun emphasised his perspective on digital terrorism, describing it as a complex and malevolent activity that can manifest in various forms, such as cyber-attacks, black propaganda and disinformation attacks, radicalisation, financial attacks, and data theft, which can be organised, individual, or even involve specific states, adding:
"These activities may target a state, an organisation, or an individual. This is a threat not only to our country but to the entire world and all countries. As a result, just as the phenomenon of communication is linked to a wide range of global world challenges, so are novel threats emerging in communication."
As a reply to "Effective steps are being taken to combat disinformation, but do we need more effective solutions against individuals and institutions ignoring ethical values in the name of interaction?" Head of Communications Altun said:
"The most detrimental aspect of digitalisation is unquestionably the quick dissemination of disinformation, fake information, and staged content. Mark Twain once said, 'A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes.' According to studies, the spread of disinformation and its derivatives outpace the dissemination of accurate information. Further data from a study by international organisations indicates that Türkiye is one of the countries most susceptible to disinformation. What does this picture tell us? It demonstrates that lying has become routine, truth and reality have been supplanted by hyperreality, and truth has been trivialised."
Centre for Combating Disinformation's efforts
Head of Communications Altun noted that the Directorate of Communications is aware of the potential harm that disinformation might create.
Head of Communications Altun emphasised that the Directorate's Centre for Combating Disinformation (DMM) operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and added:
"DMM identifies and exposes disinformation in our country and around the world, and it disseminates accurate information to the public. During the disaster of the century, as well as the ongoing Israeli genocide against Palestinians, DMM has discovered and exposed false news, distorted information, and staged content while also bringing genuine information to the attention of national and international audiences. Of course, we value every institution and organisation that takes part in the fight against disinformation. Furthermore, we believe that an organised, coordinated, and multifaceted campaign against disinformation is required. We believe it is critical for communication faculties to play a role, particularly in media literacy education, with relevant institutions and organisations taking on responsibilities.
Head of Communications Altun noted that citizens bear responsibility in this regard and that the primary purpose of disinformation is to persuade citizens to believe fake news and disinformation. Head of Communications Altun emphasised the importance of citizens being vigilant against disinformation, saying, "It should be considered a responsibility not to accept every piece of content that comes in front of them as true, not to share any information of which they are unsure of the accuracy, and to warn their surroundings about disinformation. We could uphold the truth by collectively combating disinformation. As the descendants of a truthful civilisation, we have fought this war to the end over every problem that affects our country, the lands dear to our hearts, and the world, and we will continue to do so."
Racism, Islamophobia...
In response to the question "Is racism being used as a weapon of a psychological movement?" pointing out the racist posts on social media, Head of Communications Altun said:
"In fact, phenomena such as digitalisation, disinformation, racism, xenophobia, and Islamophobia cannot be considered in isolation. Digitalisation is an instrument that enables the rapid dissemination of disinformation. Disinformation increases the visibility of crimes against humanity, such as racism, xenophobia, Islamophobia, and even terrorism. To put it more precisely, all those who promote racism, xenophobia, and Islamophobia use disinformation. They acquire visibility, create propaganda, and rally support through disinformation. How does the disinformation used by these malicious elements to gain visibility and propagate their agenda affect our lives? Their actions sometimes lead to attacks on and killings of innocent people. People's homes and places of work are likely to be raided. These horrible things are happening all over the world."
Another segment targeted our Kurdish brothers and sisters and demonstrated an eclipse of reason, holding them responsible for the murder, because our daughter Narin hails from Diyarbakır. That is also racist. Noteworthy is the fact that the racists who single out our Kurdish citizens on the one hand and those who allegedly advocate for Kurdish rights on the other are unified in their Islamophobia. These structures, fuelled by racism, make use of digital media as a tool.
Everyone should draw a lesson from the two malevolent groups' approach to this tragic event, putting aside the unscrupulous individuals who have exploited the incident for political motives. The motivation behind these circles' engagement in these blatantly malevolent activities is obvious. False news, disinformation, and information insecurity have evolved from simple communication activities to national security issues. Our citizens must remain vigilant against such malicious activities, the background of which is unknown to them, and refrain from intentionally or unintentionally supporting these networks in their communication activities that undermine our unity and solidarity. It is crucial to know that these structures sometimes record even a click on like or share in their profit reserve."
"The struggle for truth"
In response to the question, "I once read that you characterise your struggle as one for truth. What lies behind the disinformation campaigns against Türkiye? What is your perspective on the virtual agenda being developed in our country through persistent information pollution?", Head of Communications Altun said:
"The conviction that truth is a sublime ideal worth fighting for is the primary foundation for characterising our struggle as a struggle for truth. The fundamental tenet of this conviction is that the truth is in danger today, being replaced by images and perceptions, lies and fictions.
We now live in a world where the primary focus is on virtual dominance rather than the truth. Virtual production, virtual consumption, or even overconsumption and the resulting loose and reckless human relations... These are all factors that boost the influence and power of disinformation campaigns. Therefore, as I have underscored previously, the fight against disinformation must be multifaceted and unceasing. We are discussing a complex and multidimensional struggle, not one that is fought against momentary or incidental circumstances. The fact that our country is most vulnerable to the crisis of truth and information pollution, which regrettably represents the dark side of our age, is linked to Türkiye's regional and global position. Recent developments have demonstrated that Türkiye is a country whose impact and influence extend beyond its borders. It is a country that takes the initiative to create solutions when international actors' contributions to the resolution of regional and global problems are insufficient. Its constructive role in the Russia-Ukraine war is the most obvious and concrete example of this.''
The Genocide committed by Israel
Head of Communications Altun emphasised that since the first day of Israel's attack on Gaza, they have launched regional and global initiatives to deliver aid to the region as part of humanitarian diplomacy and to halt the attacks diplomatically.
In light of the fact that Israel's attacks were an attempt to exterminate Palestinians, Head of Communications Altun stated that they have been working to stop Israel and put its leaders on trial and went on to say:
''We have had talks with international institutions and organisations, notably the United Nations, as well as the administrations of states with influence over Israel, in order to put an end to the attacks. Our President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's tête-à-tête meetings, telephone diplomacy, and Minister of Foreign Affairs Hakan Fidan's efforts have all been focused on achieving this goal. While pursuing diplomatic initiatives, we have also imposed sanctions and suspended trade with Israel. Besides that, we have mobilised the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. We held the OIC Extraordinary Session of the Islamic Conference of Information Ministers in İstanbul. At the meeting, we brought to the international community's notice the invader and occupier Israel's use of disinformation campaigns to cover its massacres and atrocities. We demonstrated the will to effectively counter Israel's disinformation campaigns."
Stating that certain groups who are unhappy with Türkiye's constructive, preemptive, pioneering, and stabilising power in the international arena are attempting to hinder Türkiye, Head of Communications Altun said, ''They want Türkiye to shut in on itself, to be trapped by its own artificial agenda and deadlocks. Türkiye, thankfully, has become a brand that has rapidly solved its own issues in recent years, particularly in terms of democratisation and development, while also leading the world in many other areas. The aim of the character assassination and information pollution efforts against our country is the discomfort felt from this and the efforts to prevent Türkiye from becoming an effective international actor. But we also know that these efforts are futile. Türkiye continues, and will continue, its steady march towards its goal step by step, no matter what obstacles are placed in its path.''
BRICS Summit
In response to a question about the importance of BRICS for Türkiye and its expectations from the organisation, Head of Communication Altun remarked:
''Türkiye-BRICS relations are not new. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, in his capacity as the Term President of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, attended the 'BRICS+ Session' held on the margins of the 10th BRICS Summit in Johannesburg from July 25 to 27, 2018. Our President is now attending the 16th BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia, and participating in the ‘BRICS+ Session’. As part of this summit, our President will also hold bilateral meetings with the presidents and heads of state of several countries. Additionally, Minister of Foreign Affairs Hakan Fidan participated in the BRICS Foreign Ministers Meeting held in Nizhny Novgorod on June 10-11, 2024, where he expressed our views and expectations regarding the situation in Gaza and the Israel issue, emphasising the importance that Türkiye attaches to cooperation with BRICS."
Head of Communication Altun stated that every country is seeking political, economic, and security cooperation during a time when crises and fractures have begun to have an impact on a global scale beyond regional dimensions.
Pointing out that the primary cause of crises and fractures were global actors, Head of Communication Altun said:
''The BRICS member states, which have emerged as an alternative union against these actors, are power centres due to their large populations, abundant energy resources, and robust industries. In addition, key items such as a new common payment platform and a new reserve currency are on the union's agenda. As Türkiye, we have started seeking alternatives in this regard after the dollar has been weaponised against other countries. The second issue is that we have been criticising the international system, particularly regarding justice, and have been expressing our belief on every platform for years that the system needs to change. That is why we have a lot in common with BRICS. The union offers us benefits, and we, as Türkiye, offer opportunities to the union. Membership on the basis of mutual benefit is of course possible.
In line with the vision of our President, we must assess our options in foreign policy and keep alternatives ready. We will persist in taking the necessary steps to ensure the security of our country and nation, as well as Türkiye's political and economic interests, as we have done in the past."
"A disaster unprecedented in history..."
In response to the question, 'What was the most upsetting and happiest moment during your term of office?' Head of Communications Altun said:
"I was undoubtedly the most saddened by the earthquake that occurred on February 6. It is a disaster unprecedented in history. We lost tens of thousands of people in a single night. Many more were rendered homeless. The suffering I personally endured when we were informed about it is beyond words. We, as a country, endured an extremely distressing experience during the disaster of the century. On the other hand, there is also another aspect of this for us. We genuinely feel the weight of the responsibility our positions place on us in these challenging times. During such periods, we need to disregard our sufferings and feelings and immediately begin working. As a matter of fact, we have endeavoured to do exactly this with all our colleagues. We have strived to do our best by disregarding the concept of working hours, both in terms of coordinating communication with the relevant units of our state and in the areas of responsibility under the Directorate of Communications. In fact, one of the most meaningful processes that we, as the Directorate of Communications, have effectively managed in the context of crisis communication is the effort we made immediately after the disaster of the century. Indeed, these efforts fall within the scope of our responsibilities. Praise be to Allah, we, as a nation and state, swiftly became united from the very first hours of the disaster and endeavoured to heal our wounds and alleviate our sufferings immediately. Our state is currently engaged in the reconstruction and restoration of the region with all its means, and we have made significant progress in this regard."
Head of Communications Altun emphasised that President Erdoğan managed the process competently during times of disaster by maintaining his composure and resilient leadership and refraining from panic.
Pointing out that the happiest moment for him was President Erdoğan's victory in the 2023 elections, Head of Communications Altun said, "Indeed, the 2023 elections were the most critical for our nation and state, and it could have yielded significantly different outcomes with their national and international parameters. Despite disinformation efforts and economic attacks, particularly on the international stage, Turkish democracy once again proved its adequacy. In this regard, I believe that the 2023 elections was crucial in demonstrating Türkiye's level of democracy. Because in a different context, as a nation and a state, we could be discussing different things right now. With the wisdom of our beloved nation and the leadership of our President, Türkiye continues its blessed march towards the goals of the Century of Türkiye."
When asked about his first encounter with President Erdoğan, Head of Communications Altun replied that he met him ten years ago while serving as the director of a strategic think tank and a professor at a university. Head of Communications Altun stated that prior to his appointment in 2018, they prepared reports and research results on Turkish and world politics in different periods and presented them to President Erdoğan and said that they had the opportunity to personally see the importance President Erdoğan attaches to academic projects, public opinion surveys, and strategic reports and to witness his critical interventions in the processes.
"I should emphasise that I also give special attention to books and my library"
When asked, “You attend meetings where global concerns that affect all citizens are discussed. You participate in crucial cabinet and security planning meetings. How do you cope with the mental burden of this?" Altun noted the following:
"Here, of course, our President's motto 'those who run with passion never get tired' forms the basis of our working principle. This makes us more determined and motivated to work even harder. We are inspired to work harder when we observe our President's work pace and his passion for serving our country. We still make time to read and write, of course. I should emphasise that I also give special attention to books and my library. I try to keep up with new publications, particularly scholarly books. At the same time, I am quite interested in bibliopoles and rare and collector's books in second-hand bookshops. I frequently purchase books from bibliopoles. Therefore, I have a humble, sizable collection that includes both recently published books and those I have purchased from bibliopoles. My enthusiasm and drive are much enhanced whenever I spend time in this library."