The Presidency's Head of Communications, Fahrettin Altun, attended the promotion programme of the documentary "Music: Fahir Atakoğlu," which tells the life of world-famous pianist and composer Fahir Atakoğlu and was made with the support of the Presidency's Directorate of Communications, at Atatürk Cultural Centre.
Head of Communications Altun opened his speech before the screening by expressing his condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the recent fire disaster in Kartalkaya, Bolu.
Head of Communications Altun noted that Fahir Atakoğlu began his musical journey at the age of 7 and stated that Atakoğlu, who had the opportunity to study under masters like Cemal Reşit Rey, further enriched the education he received at the Istanbul State Conservatory with his studies in the UK.
Head of Communications Altun stated that Atakoğlu has released 14 high-quality albums in 17 countries, has received international awards for his numerous compositions for series, films, and documentaries, and is a globally recognised master of his art.
Saying that Atakoğlu has made his country proud all around the world, Head of Communications Altun added:
"As the Presidency's Directorate of Communications, we had the opportunity to work with Mr Fahir on the album "The July 15 Epic" in 2021. In that remarkable and meticulously crafted work, Mr Fahir used the powerful language of music to narrate the treacherous July 15 coup attempt when our nation selflessly defended its country against the FETO traitors. Consisting of nine symphonic pieces, the album became one of the recordings that immortalised the events of that terrible night in the nation's collective memory. At the same time, it has become one of the most valuable and distinguished works in our artistic history. It is also remarkable and admirable for a master artist like Atakoğlu to use his unique style to express the values of his nation. As a member of this august nation, I would like to express our gratitude to him in this regard as well."
Head of Communications Altun stated that a culture of tolerance has prevailed throughout history in the geography of Türkiye, where differences have always been regarded as a richness, making it an example for societies around the world.
Head of Communications Altun said, "Our sense of tolerance and our culture have a lot to say to the world," and continued:
"This ancient culture has countless values and messages that it can put forward in the name of truth, humanity, and justice, in short, to make the world a better, more beautiful, and livable place. In this respect, this civilisation needs spokespersons, cultural ambassadors, and communication ambassadors who can convey to the world the values it has developed through its historical accumulation. Fortunately, distinguished figures who can fulfil this need and represent our civilisation and culture appropriately have always emerged and continue to do so from the heart of this nation. It is also our duty to engrave these distinguished artists in the nation’s memory as they deserve and to strive for the emergence of new artists brought up in this manner by future generations."
Touching upon Türkiye's Communication Model, Head of Communications Altun said:
"Türkiye's Communication Model, which is motivated by the vision of the Century of Türkiye put forward by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, is designed to increase the global recognition and spread of all the values that are represented by the Türkiye Brand. One of the main focuses of our efforts in this direction is, of course, to contribute to the performance of cultural and artistic activities on the international stage. Today, we want Türkiye, one of the world's largest exporters of TV series and feature films, to be properly recognised for the humanitarian values it represents, first in the region and then on a global scale. We continue our work with the dream of a Türkiye that sets international standards in literature, plays, architecture, music, television series, and cinema and encourages societies towards kindness, beauty, and aesthetics."
"We believe that the Türkiye brand will be more resilient against black propaganda"
Underlining that they always emphasise the importance of public diplomacy in that vein, Head of Communications Altun said, "We believe that the Türkiye brand will be more resilient against black propaganda in the eyes of societies where we build the right cultural and artistic bridges and establish a healthy interaction environment and communication ecosystem."
Head of Communications Altun indicated that each artist who represented Türkiye on the international stage served as a communication ambassador and a "citizen diplomat" and that their artistic accomplishments in every part of the world elevated Türkiye's brand value even higher.
Recalling President Erdoğan's saying, "Türkiye is bigger than Türkiye itself," Head of Communications Altun said, "This understanding indicates that it is unacceptable for a nation that has been the defender of justice throughout history, protected the oppressed, and adopted multiculturalism as its foundation to be confined within specific borders. It is imperative for Türkiye, which, through progressive and revolutionary approaches, has largely freed itself from the vicious debates it has endured for years, to increase positive interactions with friendly countries and societies. A Türkiye that is closed in on itself, isolated, and ignorant of its region and the world is unacceptable, especially in an era when communication technologies have advanced and cultural transitivity has increased."
"We can achieve this goal with this power of our artists"
Emphasising that Türkiye will exist as a dominant country that is committed to its core values but also completely open to progressive approaches, prioritising value creation under all circumstances and conditions, Head of Communications Altun said, "Türkiye will first protect its ancient values from cultural erosion on the international stage and then hopefully bring a wave of creativity to a world suffering from a drought in cultural production. It is apparent that we have the power, the experience, and the determination to achieve this. Undoubtedly, this power is first and foremost within our artists, and we can achieve this goal with this power of our artists."
Expressing that he believes it is of great value for a documentary to capture the journey of Fahir Atakoğlu while highlighting the artistic vision he has presented in his works, Head of Communications Altun remarked that they were supporting this significant work.
Head of Communications Altun concluded his speech by thanking Fahir Atakoğlu for the values he has contributed to Türkiye.
A meaningful gift from Atakoğlu to Head of Communications Altun
Speaking at the program, Fahir Atakoğlu presented Head of Communications Altun with a painting featuring the musical notes of his piece "Honour and Lament," composed for July 15.
In addition to Head of Communications Altun, the programme was attended by a number of artists, representatives of non-governmental organisations, journalists, and art enthusiasts, including Serdar Karagöz, the Chairman of the Board of Directors and Director General of Anadolu Agency (AA), and Hülya Koçyiğit, Sema Keçik, Fadik Sevin Atasoy, Emel Göksu, and Toprak Sergen.
Head of Communications Altun watched the documentary together with Atakoğlu and the participants.
Prior to the screening of the documentary, Fahir Atakoğlu and his orchestra performed some of the pieces, including compositions arranged in remembrance of July 15.
