“Friends may be able to tell each other about unpleasant things that the other does not want to hear. We are not asking questions that have never been asked,” Gauck said at a joint press conference with Gül on April 28 as part of a four-day official trip to Turkey.
Gauck listed his questions: “For example, should Twitter and the YouTube be banned? Why did the head of the Constitutional Court speak that critically [in an April 25 address directed at the government]? Why intervene in the judiciary when you have so much power after an important election victory? Will this really strengthen democracy?”
Upon a question from a German journalist as to whether he regarded Gauck’s questions as a suggestion or an insult, Gül said no country should claim that it is perfect.
“We all recall the embarrassing situations in Germany after the massacres committed by extreme right groups and how the families of the victims were accused of murder. Racial enmity was committed. As these are the realities of European countries and we denounce them when asked whether these are compatible with the EU, we also have some negative [issues]. We have to see these from this angle.
The most important thing is to be aware of discrepancies and to be determined to correct them,”Gül said.
Although he was critical, Gauck underlined that Gül has his own point of view but recalled the existence of thousands of active associations against xenophobia. “I would expect to be questioned in the event of their absence. Our openness and friendship should not be endangered. I regard Turkish democracy as being in a process of maturation just like any democracy,” Gauck said. .........[hurriyetdailynews.com]
28/4/14
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Der deutsche Bundespräsident Joachim Gauck hat bei seinem Türkei-Besuch jüngste Entscheidungen der Regierung von Ministerpräsident Recep Tayyip Erdogan kritisiert.......
ReplyDeleteNach einem Gespräch mit dem türkischen Staatspräsident Abdullah Gül in Ankara sprach Gauck am Montag die Zugangssperren für Internetdienste wie Twitter und YouTube sowie die Massenversetzungen bei Polizei und Staatsanwaltschaft an.
Gül verwies dagegen auf die demokratischen und politischen Reformen in der Türkei. Es stelle sich die Frage, ob die Maßnahmen für die Demokratie förderlich seien, sagte Gauck........http://kurier.at/politik/ausland/gauck-kritisierte-erdogans-regierung/62.905.830
28/4/14