ISTANBUL — Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu was recently in New York to meet with representatives from around the world in an effort to gather support for Turkey to become a non-permanent member state of the United Nations Security Council in 2015. In a press statement, Davutoğlu touched upon the Gülen Movement's current attempts to discredit the Turkish government through a defamation campaign initiated by a number of Gülenists. Noting the fact that foreign officials have contacted the ministry to inform them about the issue, Davutoğlu stated that various non-governmental organizations affiliated with the Gülen Movement in the United States have sent letters of complaint to foreign officials about the situation in Turkey. "We try to promote Turkey in the international sphere, while nongovernmental organizations which have directly used support and funding from the Republic of Turkey are trying to damage our international reputation and discredit us," Davutoğlu said, adding that the Gülen Movement's true intentions should be questioned. "If there is a smear campaign against Turkey, we are entitled to take precautions," the minister said. Davutoğlu expressed that he was especially disturbed to see such betrayal as his government had previously given all sorts of assistance to Gülenist schools, visiting them, listening to their problems and trying to provide solutions. The foreign minister also noted that it is the government's duty to prevent the spread of such defamation campaigns to discredit and harm the country's global reputation.

The Gülen Movement runs over 2,000 educational institutions such as high schools, elementary schools, prep schools and others in over 160 countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and many in Europe, Africa and Central Asia.

Noting the fact that foreign officials have contacted the ministry to inform them about the issue, Davutoğlu stated that various non-governmental organizations affiliated with the Gülen Movement in the United States have sent letters of complaint to foreign officials about the situation in Turkey. "We try to promote Turkey in the international sphere, while nongovernmental organizations which have directly used support and funding from the Republic of Turkey are trying to damage our international reputation and discredit us," Davutoğlu said, adding that the Gülen Movement's true intentions should be questioned.

"If there is a smear campaign against Turkey, we are entitled to take precautions," the minister said. Davutoğlu expressed that he was especially disturbed to see such betrayal as his government had previously given all sorts of assistance to Gülenist schools, visiting them, listening to their problems and trying to provide solutions. The foreign minister also noted that it is the government's duty to prevent the spread of such defamation campaigns to discredit and harm the country's global reputation.

The Gülen Movement runs over 2,000 educational institutions such as high schools, elementary schools, prep schools and others in over 160 countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and many in Europe, Africa and Central
Asia.