TGNA Foreign Affair Commission Deputy Chairman Torun hosted Global Public Diplomacy Network Members in Turkey as guests of Yunus Emre Enstitüsü in TGNA.

TGNA Foreign Affair Commission Deputy Chairman Cemalettin Kani Torun received Global Public Diplomacy Network (GPDNET) members in Turkey as guests of Yunus Emre Enstitüsü in TGNA.

 Cemalettin Kani Torun expressed their gladness in having global public diplomacy institutions.

Torun, thanking Yunus Emre Enstitüsü Presidency for this notable operation, expressed that public diplomacy is a concept that has come to the fore particularly in the recent period.

TGNA Foreign Affair Commission Deputy Chairman Torun spoke as follows:

“Turkey declared independence in 1923 and became a country based on democratic principles. Since then Turkey has proceeded in accordance with the principles in question. I know you are worried about the Parliament Building. I worked in diplomacy department in the past and I am also a medical doctor. I travelled to numerous African countries and also to Philippines for humanitarian support and attach utmost importance to humanitarian values. There is in fact a lot to discuss on the agenda however I will discuss the recent events in the Assembly. I would like to discuss July 15^th coup attempt to which we lost many citizens. Main building of the Parliament was bombed. You can see how bombs damaged the Parliament if you look around. I would like to shortly inform you on the offender, offenders and those involved with this group. Some individuals utilize democratic principles to oppose democracy. This is of major significance. The group I refer to is FETÖ that is Fethullah Terrorist Organisation. This group infiltrated the state thinking they could take control of the government. These people infiltrated the army, police academy and other governmental agencies. This organisation initially used AK Party as a cover and appeared to defend and support the government however they came to realise how powerful we actually are. Government conducted strategic analyses to determine the group involved with FETÖ. Since then, the government has been and will be dedicated to reveal the identities of these individuals.

“Weapons, tanks, helicopters and F-16 jets were employed for the coup attempt. The Parliament building we are in, was bombed for 16 times. The organisation killed numerous innocent people. There are FETÖ schools in many countries and I believer they have school also in your countries. These people use the schools as a medium. They pretend to be benefactors however it is not the case. They grant poor children, the children of politicians, bureaucrats and businessmen with scholarships. Their aim is to reach the senior officials. This is a serious issue because this is their method in all countries. I hope you will deliver the messages I gave in my speech today. Explain that these are very dangerous people and not true benefactors in your countries. These people committed crimes. These are brainwashed people. I hope the countries that host them finally realise how dangerous they are.”

Torun added that public diplomacy is significant both for a more transparent state and for introduction the administrations' operations to the public, and for peoples to get acquainted with one another. 

The delegation toured the sections of the Assembly building damaged during July 15^th FETÖ coup attempt. The members of the delegation took plenty of pictures and videos of the TGNA affected by the attack.