Journalists and Writers Foundation-European Union Delegation Roundtable Meeting


Date posted: February 18, 2013

On January 25, 2013, Journalist and Writers Foundation hosted EU-Turkey Delegation Roundtable meeting at Sheraton Hotel, Ankara. In his opening speech, EU Delegation President, Ambassador Jean-Maurice Ripert noted that they have been examining and comparing Turkey’s ambitions with EU criteria set for the accession process.

“Journalists and Writers Foundation is an influential and deep-rooted institution. So, we would like to know the foundation’s thoughts on EU’s criteria for human rights, press freedom, freedom of expression and religion.” Ripert inquired. The delegation sought answers during the meeting that is certain to be instrumental in the country’s diplomatic future.

The meeting attendees were as follows : EU Ambassador First Counselor Michael Miller, EU-Turkey Delegation Political Advisors Sema Kilicer, Aycan Deniz, Ozer Fazlioglu, JWF President Mustafa Yesil, Vice-President Cemal Ussak, JWF Medialog Platform Secretary General Tercan Ali Basturk, Brussels Interfaith Dialogue Platform official Serafettin Pektas, Fatih University Economics and Administrative Sciences Faculty Associate Prof. Ihsan Yilmaz, Zirve University Economics and Administrative Sciences Faculty Associate Prof. Gokhan Bacik, the daily Today’s Zaman Ankara representative Abdullah Bozkurt and Medialog Platform representative Ela Demir.

Later in the meeting, the President of Journalists and Writers Foundation, Mustafa Yesil delivered a speech outlining the core values and principles of Gulen Movement. Yesil recalled that the three major foci of the movement have on education, peace building against existing disunity and poverty alleviation. “The most distinctive feature of the Movement is its advocacy for co-existence. Among its core values are pluralism, dialogue and recognition of democratic opinions, which has naturally resulted in its followers’ conscious avoidance of politics. The Movement cherishes values with scientific, traditional and religious origins.” Yesil said.

Finally, as the foundation’s vice-president Cemal Ussak took the stage, he expressed their hopes for a permanent, an absolute solution to Imrali issue (negotiations over imprisoned PKK leader and relevant Kurdish issue).

Source: [in Turkish] on Medialog Platform, 25 January 2013. English translation is retrieved from HizmentMovement.com

Tags: | |


Related News

GYV contributes to correct perception of Islam

Journalists and Writers Foundation (GYV) Vice President Hüseyin Hurmalı told the Zaman daily on Sunday that the GYV, of which prominent Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen is the honorary president, serves an important global mission to help people understand Islam at a time when it is increasingly associated with radical Islamist organizations such as the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and al-Qaeda.

Hate speech and respect for the sacred

Islam seeks to protect five major principles that are specified in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and adopted in the modern world: religious freedom, the right to observe religious duties and the protection of this right; the right to life and its protection; the right to mental and physical health and its protection; the right to property and its protection; the right to marriage and reproduction and its protection.

Journalists and Writers Foundation in Rwanda for Global Peacemakers Conference

“Global Peacemakers Conference” took place in the Rwandan capital city Kigali, August 7-8, 2014. Turkey’s Journalists and Writers Foundation, the sole participant from outside Africa, attended the event having attracted a large number of academics, religious figures and NGO officials from across the continent.  In his address, the foundation’s secretary-general for Abant Platform Ibrahim Anli […]

GYV’s dialogue center not returned despite court order

Journalists and Writers Foundation (GYV) officials were forced to leave its affiliate Intercultural Dialogue Center (KADIM) office in the Eyüp district of İstanbul despite a court order ruling that GYV could return to the premises after the dialogue center was unlawfully evacuated by municipal police on Dec. 26, 2014.

GYV lashes out at ‘traitor’ label for attending EU ambassadors meeting

The Journalists and Writers Foundation (GYV), in a written statement, has denounced some media outlets’ labeling the body a “traitor” over its attendance at the traditional lunch meeting of the EU ambassadors. The statement criticized the allegations published in some media outlets which “in an effort to distort the truth and smear the foundation” said the GYV betrayed the country by attending such a meeting.

GYV says arrest warrant for Gülen motivated by upcoming election

The Journalists and Writers Foundation’s (GYV), of which Fethullah Gülen is the honorary president, issued a statement on Wednesday slamming the government-orchestrated arrest warrant for Gülen as a government election tactic.

Latest News

Turkish inmate jailed over alleged Gülen links dies of heart attack in prison

Message of Condemnation and Condolences for Mass Shooting at Bondi Beach, Sydney

Media executive Hidayet Karaca marks 11th year in prison over alleged links to Gülen movement

ECtHR faults Turkey for convictions of 2,420 applicants over Gülen links in follow-up to 2023 judgment

New Book Exposes Erdoğan’s “Civil Death Project” Targeting the Hizmet Movement

European Human Rights Treaty Faces Legal And Political Tests

ECtHR rejects Turkey’s appeal, clearing path for retrials in Gülen-linked cases

Erdoğan’s Civil Death Project’ : The ‘politicide’ spanning more than a decade

Fethullah Gülen’s Vision and the Purpose of Hizmet

In Case You Missed It

NJ Legislature recognized Turkish-American organizations for accomplishments, contributions

Why does Fethullah Gülen Scare Us?

Boston Globe: Fethullah Gulen, a US resident wanted by Turkey, must be protected

Erdogan’s problem with his well-educated citizens

Fethullah Gulen’s Message of Condolences and Condemnation for Terrorist Attack Against Mosque in Egypt

Once shut down by Taliban, now Afghan gov’t plans to hand over successful Turkish Schools to Turkish Gov’t

The Muslim Martin Luther? Fethullah Gulen Attempts an Islamic Reformation

Copyright 2026 Hizmet News