Daily Sabah logo

Politics
Diplomacy Legislation War On Terror EU Affairs Elections News Analysis
TÜRKİYE
Istanbul Education Investigations Minorities Expat Corner Diaspora
World
Mid-East Europe Americas Asia Pacific Africa Syrian Crisis Islamophobia
Business
Automotive Economy Energy Finance Tourism Tech Defense Transportation News Analysis
Lifestyle
Health Environment Travel Food Fashion Science Religion History Feature Expat Corner
Arts
Cinema Music Events Portrait Reviews Performing Arts
Sports
Football Basketball Motorsports Tennis
Opinion
Columns Op-Ed Reader's Corner Editorial
PHOTO GALLERY
JOBS ABOUT US RSS PRIVACY CONTACT US
© Turkuvaz Haberleşme ve Yayıncılık 2023

Daily Sabah logo

عربي
  • Politics
    • Diplomacy
    • Legislation
    • War On Terror
    • EU Affairs
    • Elections
    • News Analysis
  • TÜRKİYE
    • Istanbul
    • Education
    • Investigations
    • Minorities
    • Expat Corner
    • Diaspora
  • World
    • Mid-East
    • Europe
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Africa
    • Syrian Crisis
    • Islamophobia
  • Business
    • Automotive
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Finance
    • Tourism
    • Tech
    • Defense
    • Transportation
    • News Analysis
  • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Science
    • Religion
    • History
    • Feature
    • Expat Corner
  • Arts
    • Cinema
    • Music
    • Events
    • Portrait
    • Reviews
    • Performing Arts
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Motorsports
    • Tennis
  • Gallery
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Op-Ed
    • Reader's Corner
    • Editorial
  • TV

President Gül stands up for Turkey’s intelligence chief

by

Oct 24, 2013 - 12:00 am GMT+3
No Image
by Oct 24, 2013 12:00 am

President Abdullah Gül joins Prime Minister Erdoğan in standing up to the defense of Turkey’s intelligence chief Hakan Fidan, following reports that surfaced criticizing his mission.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, President Abdullah Gül stood up for Turkey's National Intelligence Organization (MİT) Undersecretary Hakan Fidan, who has been under fire since articles released in the foreign press alleged he revealed the identities of ten Israeli spies to Iran. Earlier this week Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesperson Yigal Palmor denied that the Washington Post article by David Iganatius, which accuses Turkey's intelligence chief of divulging information on MOSSAD agents to Iran, was not based on information provided by official Israel sources. Palmor also stated that the article released last week intended to complicate a current rapprochement between Israel and Turkey.

Responding to reporters' question following a meeting with Japan's Ambassador to Ankara Yutaka Yokoi in the capital, President Abdullah Gül stated, "MİT and its Undersecretary, fulfill their duties in the best manner possible by working for Turkey's national interests. There may be circles who are uncomfortable with these activities," said Gül referring to recent attempts to draw up certain conclusions as being systematic. "No one should be influenced by any of this. Turkey's own independent policies and interests supersede everything. Therefore, what is written and drawn up abroad is not that significant."

Gül's comments came after Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan also weighed in on the allegations against intel chief Fidan, while speaking to reporters in Ankara on Wednesday prior to his departure for Kosovo. "Those who can talk do and we do not have the right to ask anyone why they spoke in that manner," said Erdoğan.

Commenting on the Israeli Foreign Ministry Spokesman Palmor's denial of Israel being a source to the Washington Post column, Prime Minister Erdoğan stated, "Due to Israel releasing a statement on the issue, we have to, whether we like it or not, believe their statement."

PM Erdoğan stated that they will always stand by their bureaucrats and will not allow them to fall prey to others. "Disloyalty with our fellow seatmates is not in our book. This includes our Chief of General staff, our National Intelligence Organization Undersecretary and our politicians," said Erdoğan.

CHINA'S TENDER-WINNING BID FOR TURKEY'S LONG-RANGE DEFENSE SYSTEM

President Gül also commented on the reaction and criticism from the west on a Chinese firm winning a tender for Turkey's long-range missile defense system by stating, "Turkey always places high importance on allied relations. Within this framework of reaching a conclusion on this system, the integration of these missiles to be purchased has always been discussed. These are the technical issues. There is no reason to reach any other meaning from this situation. In addition, there are these sorts of processes in play in other NATO nations," said Gül.

The President added that there is nothing more natural than a nation making their national interests a priority. "The technical issues have been accounted for and this decision was reached," stated Gül.

  • shortlink copied
  • Last Update: Oct 24, 2013 2:08 pm
    RELATED TOPICS
    fight-against-terrorism DEUTSCHE-BANK US-LIBYA-RELATIONS
    KEYWORDS
    politics
    The Daily Sabah Newsletter
    Keep up to date with what’s happening in Turkey, it’s region and the world.
    You can unsubscribe at any time. By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
    No Image
    Nature, protests and wildfire: Top pictures of the week
    PHOTOGALLERY
    • POLITICS
    • Diplomacy
    • Legislation
    • War On Terror
    • EU Affairs
    • News Analysis
    • TÜRKİYE
    • Istanbul
    • Education
    • Investigations
    • Minorities
    • Diaspora
    • World
    • Mid-East
    • Europe
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Africa
    • Syrian Crisis
    • İslamophobia
    • Business
    • Automotive
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Finance
    • Tourism
    • Tech
    • Defense
    • Transportation
    • News Analysis
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Science
    • Religion
    • History
    • Feature
    • Expat Corner
    • Arts
    • Cinema
    • Music
    • Events
    • Portrait
    • Performing Arts
    • Reviews
    • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Motorsports
    • Tennis
    • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Op-Ed
    • Reader's Corner
    • Editorial
    • Photo gallery
    • Jobs
    • privacy
    • about us
    • contact us
    • RSS
    © Turkuvaz Haberleşme ve Yayıncılık 2021