Ertuğrul Özkök - English
Ertuğrul Özkök - English
Ertuğrul Özkök - EnglishYazarın Tüm Yazıları

How should a prime minister enter a conference hall

When I look at the stage I see German Prime Minister Angela Merkel, another politician, German Interior Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble, Dr. Zieter Zetsche, the head of the world's most prestigious automobile brand Mercedes, and two media bosses, one is Turkish and the other is German.

Haberin Devamı

One of the media bosses is Aydin Dogan, the head of Dogan Yayin Holding, and the other is Dr. Hubert Burda, the owner of 'Burda', one of the biggest media institutions in Germany.

* * *

Close relations between the media and the ruling power, leaving aside dictatorship rules, is a very rare thing.

It can also be said that, the democratic feature of a regime starts to transform into a more autocratic, even more totalitarian form, as the media, completely obeying the power, expands.

Observing Turkey from a distance, it could also be said that it is on this same course.

Haberin Devamı

But the issue also has another side.

Very constructive outcomes can result from politicians and media sharing a collective mind and support for reasonable thoughts on important issues for humanity.

We witnessed the results of just such a cooperation, something which is very rare in our business, in Berlin the day before.

* * *

The German Union of Magazine Publishers gave their traditional awards to two people.

The boss of Mercedes took the ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ award.

And the owner of our newspaper, Aydin Dogan, received the 'Golden Victoria' award for "his contribution to the integration and friendship of Turkey and Germany".

I was filled with pride while watching the ceremony.

Many of Germany’s mot influential people were in attendance.

Merkel had just returned from attending the Group of 20 (G-20) summit held in the United States.

In other words, she had barely had time to get over her jet lag.

In addition, she was to give another speech at a separate venue.

Despite her packed agenda, she attended this ceremony and delivered a very beautiful speech.

She even made a joke. "I am also your prime minister", she had told Turkish youngsters, who had behaved as if he Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan were a pop star during their joint speech in Germany.

Haberin Devamı

* * *

The difference between a developed democratic culture and the not yet matured Orientalist looking democratic culture can be seen when a prime minister enters a conference hall.

Merkel had arrived late to the ceremony, having attended another event beforehand.

How do you know when a prime minister enters a hall in Turkey?

At first, the cameras and photographers make their move, disturbing everyone lining the path of the prime minister.

The second wave comes with the arrival of his security army.

Nobody was aware of Merkel's entrance.

That is because nobody, except for her consultant, her principal clerk and a bodyguard, accompanied her.

She came to the front row and sat down after shaking hands with Dr. Burda, Dogan and Zetsche.

Haberin Devamı

She also stayed more than an hour after the ceremony ended, despite having planned to stay on for just fifteen minutes.

She spoke in a relaxed and sincere manner, holding a wine glass and making jokes.

Neither was there any bodyguard terror.

Her behavior drew the attention of all of us.

She was shaking hands with anyone, regardless of whether they were male or female.

One by one, she also shook our hands, showing us each the same sincerity, before departing after 10:00 p.m.

There was no disruption to the crowd upon her departure.

She left as silently as she arrived.

* * *

The culture of well-established democracies is different.

Also their stance towards their media is different.

Haberin Devamı

As too, is their entrance and exit, to and from halls...

That is because the "national will" concept in these countries refers to the true name of a pluralist democracy, and not to the nick name of a totalitarian and discretionary understanding.

 

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