Türkiye holds panel in Berlin on July 15 defeated coup attempt

By Cuneyt Karadag

BERLIN (AA) - Türkiye's Communications Directorate organized a panel Thursday in the German capital Berlin on the July 15, 2016 defeated coup attempt in Türkiye.

The panel featured Prof. Dr. Ulrich Brückner, a faculty member at Berlin Free University and Stanford University, journalist and politician Christoph Hörstel, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Huseyin Alptekin from the National Defense University, and Dr. Kaan Kutlu Atac from Mersin University as speakers.

Hörstel, who worked as a journalist for the ARD television channel in Germany for 14 years, said the US's involvement in the treacherous coup attempt on July 15th cannot be denied.

Referring to the night of the coup attempt, he said ARD reported that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had "fled," adding that such reporting is “a disgrace for Germany."

Hörstel said the coup's ringleader, Adil Oksüz, was in Germany and emphasized that it is detrimental for Germany to be seen as a "safe haven" for FETO.

He noted that the strong presidency in Türkiye has gained public support and there is no similar example of this in the world.

"We see the power that the Turkish people possess. The terrorists will not succeed. This is very important for the future of a nation. Their presence on the streets, saying 'We are here,' and saying 'We are here for our President and our country' are of great significance for a country's future and security," he added.

Highlighting President Erdogan's concern for the interests of his own people, Hörstel said: "To Europe, I would like to say that if we do not learn from this, we will have no future. When I see what Erdogan has done for his own people, I see the future of the country as secure. Many countries will serve as role models by following his example worldwide."

Political scientist Prof. Dr. Bruckner pointed out the need to constantly defend democracy, saying that "democracy is not merely a sign hanging on the door of political systems."

Bruckner noted that Germany had to cover a long distance from the Nazi era to its current system.

The German academic also expressed satisfaction with Türkiye's call for the revitalization of its relations with the European Union.

FETO and its US-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup on July 15, 2016 which left 251 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.

Ankara also accuses FETO of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police and judiciary.