In his article written on the occasion of July 15 Democracy and National Unity Day, Head of Communications Altun said, "We will continue to fight in every field against this terrorist organisation, which threatens the security of not only Türkiye but also all the states it exists in."
Head of Communications Altun's article appeared in nearly 50 news outlets, including newspapers, magazines, and news portals, across 15 countries.
The article by Head of Communications Altun was featured in Italy's Il Messaggero and Il Mattino newspapers, Germany's Focus magazine, Greece's Kathimerini newspaper, Chinese news portal Sohu, Russian news portal Tonkosti, TRNC's Kıbrıs Newspaper and various news sites, Bulgaria's news portals The Sofia Globe, Epicenter, Kırcaali, Bosnia and Herzegovina's Oslobodjenje and Nezavisne Novine newspapers and the official news agency FENA, Palestine's Akhbar Al-Balad and Al Quds newspapers, Turkmenistan's News Central Asia news portal, Kyrgyzstan's Vecherniy Bishkek newspaper, Uzbekistan's many news portals, particularly Daryo and Uzdaily, Malaysian state agency Bernama and Astro Awani news portal, Kazakhstan's media outlets such as Turanews, Abajdan, Kazislam and in South Korea's Weekly Chosun magazine.
In an article titled "A treacherous coup attempt: July 15, 2016," Head of Communications Altun stated that a "treacherous" coup attempt was carried out with the aim of overthrowing the democratically elected government of Türkiye, noting that the FETO coup attempt began with the blockade of bridges in Istanbul and tanks taking to the streets.
Highlighting that many state institutions and organisations, notably the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye, the Presidential Complex and Ankara Provincial Directorate of Police, were bombed, Head of Communications Altun remarked that it was soon realised that the incident was not an independent case but a coordinated action.
"This was one of the historic moments when the unity and determination of our nation were tested"
Reiterating that FETO’s coup units organised an attack aimed at assassinating President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in the article, Head of Communications Altun continued:
Our people took to the squares to defend their democracy upon the call of our president, broadcast on national television. Millions of our citizens fought against the putschist terrorist organisation throughout the night. The Turkish Armed Forces, the Turkish National Police, and our nation, steadfast in its democracy, suppressed the treacherous coup attempt on the morning of July 16 and apprehended its plotters. We honoured 252 martyrs and 2740 veterans, both military and civilian. On the night of July 15, heroes such as Martyr Ömer Halisdemir, who resisted at the cost of his life to defend the Special Forces Command and neutralised the general who was part of the coup's brain trust, stood as a barrier against the coup plotters.
Our citizens managed to neutralise the coup plotters who intended to take their lives on the blocked Bosphorus Bridge, at the danger of losing their lives as martyrs. This was one of the historic moments when the unity and determination of our nation were tested."
Head of Communications Altun said that from the initial moments of the coup attempt, the Turkish government took action to restore order and bring the perpetrators to justice, and he noted that in the statements made by President Erdoğan and state officials during that process, it was revealed that the coup attempt was carried out by an illegal group that had infiltrated the Turkish Armed Forces outside the control of the command staff.
Head of Communications Altun stated that it then became certain that FETO was behind the coup attempt, that it was revealed that the organisation's ringleader, who lives in the United States, carried out this treacherous conduct through his parallel organisation within the state, and emphasised that the victory was hailed as one of the most noble resistances not just in Türkiye, but in the history of democracy around the world.
"This attitude has upset us"
Pointing out that Türkiye expected solidarity from friendly and allied countries, especially in the extradition of FETO fugitives and ringleaders who fled abroad, Head of Communications Altun noted:
"While many countries in the international community have expressed solidarity and support for Türkiye, some of our partners' responses to the coup attempt have been inadequate. Türkiye was also dissatisfied with how the coup attempt was reported in these countries' media. Internationally responsible Western media outlets attempted to simplify the events of July 15. They reported the bloody coup attempt against our country's democracy using the awful phrase 'a fight between two factions.' After the terrible coup attempt on July 15, despite several attempts for the extradition of the ringleader of the organisation based in Pennsylvania, no constructive answer has been obtained from our partner, the United States. This attitude in reaction to a threat to our democracy has upset us."
Stating that they were aware that FETO continued to operate in many different geographies, including allied countries, Head of Communications Altun said, "We will continue to battle this terrorist organisation in all areas, as it endangers the security of not only Türkiye but also all of the countries in which it operates. As a country that has further strengthened its democratic institutions after the treacherous coup attempt, we will continue our fight against the terrorist organisation, which aims at the lives of our citizens and the independence of our country, in every field. We will continue to honour the memories of our citizens who died on that terrible night by preserving Türkiye's freedom and future."