Turkish FM calls on Gülen Movement for dialogue to find way out political crisis


Date posted: December 29, 2013

ANKARA

Delivering constructive messages to move away from political crisis over the graft probe, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu has invited the Fetullah Gülen movement to engage in “dialogue and a strategic look toward the horizon.”

“We should build dialogue, instead of physical barriers,” Davutoğlu said on Dec. 29 in a televised interview, “There is a way out of this crisis, let’s have dialogue… That is why Erdoğan invited Gülen to Turkey.”

“It is obvious how much the civil society, which was oppressed during the Feb. 28 [events], including the Hizmet Movement, has developed during our term,” the minister added.

Civil society could influence politics, but it should do so in open ways, the minister said, noting that if this was not the case then the civil society would suffer most. The state would act as a state, civil society would act as civil society, said Davutoğlu.

“Look from where we came to in 10 years’ time. I am calling on friends from Cemaat, or as we say service movement for internal accountability,” he said. If internal accountability is present, then the right steps would be taken, and 10 years of accumulation would not be wasted, he added.

An image as if there was double authority would harm the state, but would harm all congregational and civil society structures more, Davutoğlu argued.

Davutoğlu assured that his government was determined to be a strict follower of allegations of corruption and bribery.

“The issue has turned into something other than corruption and has taken a dimension of revenge as I see on the face of the prosecutor that was delivering the statement,” the minister noted referring to the prosecutors of a recent graft probe, who are said to be close to the Gülen Movement.

“Reading a statement does not suit a prosecutor,” he said, adding that the judicial system should be purified from all sorts of feelings of revenge.

Gov’t opens embassies ‘to serve Gülen’s interests’

The minister recalled earlier claims against his government that Turkey was opening new embassies all around the world in order to serve Gülen Movement.

“Are we the obstacles that are in front of the services?” he asked.

The recent political crisis between the government and Gülen movement has reached a point which would “please those who are uncomfortable with Turkey,” the minister said.

Elaborating on the “foreign powers” to which Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan often referred in relation to the graft probe, Minister Davutoğlu addressed those “who were uncomfortable in 2003 because it was standing on its own legs, were again leery of Turkey today.”

In the international arena, some circles conducted “psychological operations” during the last two years, which were more intense over the past year, against him with “demonizing” tactics launched to smear the government.

Those circles tried to paint him as a warmonger, because the government was against an “oppressor” in Syria, Davutoğlu said.

A smear campaign was launched against Hakan Fidan, chief of the National Intelligence Organization (MİT), as the body’s “influence was in rise.”

Some circles in the international arena preferred Turkey’s “static” foreign policy of the 90’s, which was “merely involved in nearby crises” such as Cyprus, he said, noting that now the country had advanced its influence in the world.

Davutoğlu mentioned Turkey’s efforts and influence in Somalia in this regard.

Source: Hurriyet Daily News , December 29, 2013


Related News

GYV praised for response to accusations about Hizmet movement

GYV Chairman Mustafa Yeşil said the foundation has received very positive reactions to its 11-article statement, adding that many people found the statement an “honorable” and “courteous” one. AK Party Adıyaman deputy Mehmet Metiner said by releasing Tuesday’s statement, the GYV has taken a very valuable step that “spoils the games of some evil circles that want to create hostility between the government and the Hizmet movement.”

Fethullah Gulen on attempts to associate Hizmet with terrorism and ISIS

Fethullah Gulen: As I have stated earlier, I have long called ISIS, al-Qaeda, Boko Haram, Murabitun, and many other organizations terrorist, maybe fifty times. And I have said a Muslim cannot be a terrorist; a Muslim can never engage in terrorism.

Civil death: Amnesty report on social upheaval caused by Turkey’s purge of public servants

“Tainted as ‘terrorists’ and stripped of their livelihoods, a large swathe of people in Turkey are no longer able to continue in their careers and have had alternative employment opportunities blocked,” Andrew Gardner, Amnesty International’s researcher on Turkey.

Erdoğan raising new army of political Islamists

Gülen had to take a stand, not seeking power for himself at his advanced age, but to protect the fundamental teachings of Islam that emphasize humility, moderation, justice, accountability and transparency in governance.

An interview at a party-state

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s witch-hunt campaign to find and eliminate people who are sympathizer of the Hizmet movement and not sympathizer of the government was reflected in interviews that were organized by the Ministry of Education last month. It seems Turkey has totally become a party-state.

Leaked emails reveal Erdoğan’s son-in-law’s team fabricated news against Gülen in US

An email included in Wikileaks’ Monday publication of the leaked emails of Berat Albayrak, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s son-in-law and Turkey’s minister of energy, shows that Albayrak fabricated news with pro-government people in the United States in order to defame the Gülen movement in the US media.

Latest News

Fethullah Gulen – man of education, peace and dialogue – passes away

Fethullah Gülen’s Condolence Message for South African Human Rights Defender Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Hizmet Movement Declares Core Values with Unified Voice

Ankara systematically tortures supporters of Gülen movement, Kurds, Turkey Tribunal rapporteurs say

Erdogan possessed by Pharaoh, Herod, Hitler spirits?

Devious Use of International Organizations to Persecute Dissidents Abroad: The Erdogan Case

A “Controlled Coup”: Erdogan’s Contribution to the Autocrats’ Playbook

Why is Turkey’s Erdogan persecuting the Gulen movement?

Purge-victim man sent back to prison over Gulen links despite stage 4 cancer diagnosis

In Case You Missed It

Hizmetophobia: A by-product of the Turkish Muslim Spring

UN praises Kimse Yok Mu for aid efforts in Somalia

Toward a security state

Teacher gets arrested, wife suffers miscarriage amid gov’t crackdown on Gülen movement

Gulen movement sympathizers committed to interfaith dialogue, charity and nonviolence

The aftermath of the failed Turkey coup: Torture, beatings and rape

Turkey: Detained higher education professionals at risk of torture

Copyright 2025 Hizmet News