Chairman of the International Eurasia Press Fund, founder of the "Eurasia Media Network" Mr.Umud Mirzayev held an interview with Mr.Irfan Balkanlıoglu, governor of Ordu province in Turkey. Mr. Balkanlıoglu gave a wide ranging interview on coup attempt on July 15 in Turkey and its impact of the country's future policy, economic potential and tourism capabilities of Ordu province as well. Eurasia Diary analytical information gateway presents the interview.
Umud Mirzayev:15 July is remembered as terrible day in our memory .How do you remember that day as well? How do you think that it could not happen at all? What was the aim of them who want to mess Turkey?
Mr. Balkanlıoglu: July 15 is a black side of Turkish history. Because, government is elected by votes as in all democratic country .When the time expired polls are putted in front of the people and who came to power by election is going by election as well. But there has been so called tradition in Turkey for many years. If we say as a Turkish people say: "soldiers raise the pot" in order to come to the power. History shows that the army is going to support this motion at this moment. We call it coup. But, that coup attempt which took place on July 15 is targeted to the both-Turkish nation and army. The significantly larger percentage of Turkish army had no information about the coup and they certainly have been against this coup. Just a group of gang tried to take army under control so as to overthrow the government and at last to capture the republic of Turkey. But they did not reach their goals because of the both - president of country and common sense of Turkish people and certainly the help of God did not let them realize their desires. The people did not support them. The president made the call to the public, and people rise up against the attempted military in the streets. They stood in front of tanks and cannons. Thousands of people did it. And those people cached the tanks. Gangs were forced to retreat. The police seized them and the attempt failed. Now, they will be brought to justice. Unfortunately, we observed painful views as well. We have martyrs. Imagine, weapons which were bought to use against external enemies were turned toward the people. People are fired, threw the ball to the parliament, threw the bombs to police offices.52 polices were martyred. Totally we have 250 martyrs, 1500-2000 wounded. That is quite hard for us. But with the support of people and courage of the government this attempt stayed just bitter memory on memory of us. Because of danger and threats people are aware and keep themselves awake.
Umud Mirzayev: 24 days passed from this incident. Everybody, from the old to the youth are at the stage -arena. Is everybody not out of the wood? Who are these messages addressed at the square to?
Mr. Balkanlıoglu: These bandits are wolves that possess sheepskin. They can hide themselves how they want. They show themselves that serve for any ideology. That is the main reason of why they get forward at state system. They may stay still between us. The danger and threats are going on till purging all of them. That is why we cannot relax. Due to the reason that your closest friends, bodyguards, securities can be treacherous. They attack and arrest you instead of protecting.
Umud Mirzayev: What would happen if they reach their desires? How can you characterize the current events happenings in the region?
Mr. Balkanlıoglu: There are countries which do not have law and justice around the world. One of them is Syria. Currently there is a civil war. The situation is the same in Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya as well. Imagine, Turkey could have turned into those countries. Armed conflicts, disconnection between police and people, street battles could have led to civil war. And PKK using this “opportunity” could have increased the number of terrorist attacks and attempt to divide the country. Since Seljuk and Ottoman Empire , Turkey helps the people suffering from tyranny, including not only Muslims, but also Christians and Jews. There is a village namely “Polenez” in Istanbul. People suffering from revolution in Poland moved to there. Even we welcomed the refugees from Belarus. Before them, Circassia’s, Tartars, Chechens found shelter in our country. Now more than 2 million Syrians come to our homeland. We take care of them whereas we all observed the attitude of Europeans to Syrians. They almost want to shot them at the border. Just imagine what would happen if Turkey was mixed up? A terrorist comes and says go away from here. These bandits are at every part of the government now, so they threat the government and plan armed attack. In modern life, such situations must never be happened .If Turkey to get rid of this, the whole region to get rid of adversity.
Umud Mirzayev: Turkey's friends passed the hard circumstances as well. How will affect the incidents which happened in Turkey to the relations between Turkey and its strategic partners?
Mr. Balkanlıoglu: “A Friend in need is a friend indeed”. We always promise that we will support the people who are in trouble. Within these difficulties some friend countries support our country the way to fight against terrorist group. But some our "friend" countries did not support us. That was the very crucial moment that we would like to see the support of them. Sending a message of friendship after the stabilization of the situation in the country only shows that how the relation is weak in realty.
Europe did not pass the test which is vitally important for us at that time. But many states do support us. They called. May god bless them!
Umud Mirzayev: The president of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with the president of Russia. What is the importance of this meeting? Which consequences can arise after rapprochement between Turkey and Russia? What is your attitude towards this opinion?
Amma iki qardaş arasında da bəzən ixtilaflar, anlaşılmazlıqlar olur. Suriya məsələsi , krizisi ortaya çıxanda fikirlərimiz haçalandı. Çünki Suriya bizim qonşumuzdur və oradakı qeyri-sabitlik bizə birbaşa təsir edir. Misal üçün 3 milyon mühaciri Türkiyə himayə etmək məcburiyyətində qalır. Orada bizim soydaşlarımızda var. Məhz buna görə biz məsələyə müdaxilə etmək məcburiyyətində qaldıq. Burada bir ixtilaf baş verdi. Amma bununla belə Türkiyə Rusiya ilə diplomatik əlaqələri sonuna qədər saxladı. Xoş olmayan bir hadisə baş verdi. Bir rus təyyarəsi vuruldu. Həmin təyyarənin pilotu da qətlə yetirildi. Bununla belə hökümət indi o məsələni bu son hadisələrdən sonra ciddi araşdırır.
Mr. Balkanlıoglu: The well known Chinese philosopher said that one enemy is more than 1000 friends. Turkey's strategy is to have friendship relations among neighborhood countries .Russia is our friend for a long time. It is our partner at every field of trade and supports the strategic projects of Turkey. In addition, there were good friendship relations between the president of Russia and Turkey. But sometimes disagreements and misunderstandings can occur between the two brothers. When the Syrian crises emerged our thoughts was divided. Because of the fact that Syria is our neighbor and stability in Syria directly impacts on our country. For example, Turkey is subjected to patronize 3 million immigrants. There are our citizens as well. That is why we have had to intervene this process. So that disagreement emerged. However, Turkey kept the diplomatic relations with Russia till the end .There was happened an unpleasant incident. A Russian plane was shot down and its pilot died. Furthermore, the government is investigating that incident after the last events.
To be continued…
