Erdogan says Turkey ‘has freest press in the world’December 27, 2014 - 13:19 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkey has the freest press in the world, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Friday, Dec 26, brushing off accusations that media freedoms were being eroded under his rule. "Nowhere in the world is the press freer than it is in Turkey. I very sure to say this," he said in a televised speech to a conference in Ankara, according to Hurriyet Daily News. "The press is so free in Turkey that one can insult, slander, defame, make racist statements and commit hate crimes that are not tolerated even in democratic countries." "I personally experienced this, so did my family," he added. Turkey was the world’s top jailer of journalists in 2012 and 2013, ahead of Iran and China, according to the international Committee to Protect Journalists, before improving to tenth place this year. Erdogan’s comments came less than two weeks after police raids on opposition media allegedly linked to Erdogan’s arch-foe Fethullah Gulen prompted a furious reaction from the European Union. Erdogan has blamed Gulen for concocting stunning corruption allegations that emerged last year concerning ministers and his own inner circle that also touched his own son Bilal. The remarks also coincided with the release pending trial of a 16-year-old schoolboy who was controversially arrested on charges of insulting Erdogan by accusing him of being the "chief of corruption." But Erdogan said: "You cannot insult them (his family) like this in any other country. There is no limit to the insults (we receive). You cannot run such headlines in Europe or the U.S." "Europeans accuse us as if such things never happen in their countries. No one raises their voice when journalists are detained in Europe." He launched another bitter attack on the European Union, the latest episode in a bitter row that erupted with the EU’s criticism of the raids on opposition media. "We are not the scapegoats of the EU," said Erdogan. "We are not a country that Europe can criticize, wag its finger at and scold without them looking in the mirror themselves." "Those days are over. The old Turkey does not exist anymore," he added. The slanging match with Brussels has dealt a new blow to Turkey’s long-running bid to join the 28-member bloc, but analysts believe it has not yet been written off. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | The Power of One Dram to benefit Road of Life charity The companies inform that the May beneficiary of The Power of One Dram is the “Road of Life” charitable organization. Ucom General Director gives lecture at French University in Armenia The General Director of Ucom Ralph Yirikian delivered a lecture at the French University of Armenia. Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty. Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza. |