Presidential Culture and Arts Grand Awards
“Presidential Culture and Art Grand Awards” was delivered to the owners at the ceremony held on December, 21 2017 in the Presidency Complex.
Attending the 2017 Presidential Culture and Arts Grand Awards Ceremony at the Presidential Complex, President Erdoğan presented their awards to Selahattin Kara in the field of painting; Göksel Baktagir in the field of music; Ali Toy in the field of traditional arts; Yavuz Turgul in the field of cinema; Prof. İlber Ortaylı in the field of history; and Nurettin Topçu, who was granted the Culture and Arts Loyalty Award.
Artists, ministers and important representatives of the world of culture and arts, invited people and members of the press also participated in the ceremony where the President of TÜBA, Prof. Ahmet Cevat Acar also took part.
“Each obstacle set in order to bring turkey to a halt further stimulates our will to achieve our goals”
President Erdoğan made a speech before the award presentation ceremony. Underlining that they have successfully and determinedly maintained the struggle against terrorist organizations within Turkey and that they shall not allow the establishment of a terror corridor along the southern border of Turkey, President Erdoğan stated: “With our growth rates, exports, employment and production rates, we prove that we protect our economy and that the developmental efforts of our country cannot be blocked with minor operations.”
President Erdoğan indicated that each obstacle set in order to bring Turkey to a halt further stimulates their will to achieve their goals and said: “These attacks reached their peak with the July 15 coup attempt and let alone setting us off track, they encouraged us to keep up our struggle with even more determination. We are aware that one of the primary fields which should never be neglected during this process is cultural and art activities.”
“We shall continue to defend the rights of our brothers and sisters with whom we share a common history and civilization”
Underlining that the desire to learn about history and civilization increases following periods of big distress, President Erdoğan said: “The significance of the struggle put up by Turkey in Syria, Iraq, in the entire Middle East, in the Balkans, in the Caucasus, in North Africa and other regions can truly be understood if we turn to our history.”
Stressing that some impertinent people can become so vile as to call Fahreddin Pasha a “thief” unless Fahreddin Pasha and the Defense of Medina that was put up under his command are duly known, President Erdoğan said: “What is it that spoils this man? Oil spoils him. The money in his hands spoils him. You impudent man, where were your ancestors while my ancestors were defending Medina? You should account for this first. Fahreddin Pasha was on duty there for nearly 3 years and he was concerned about what would befall the holy relics and where they would be taken to in case of an occupation attempt by the British. He had such a broad perspective that he sent these holy relics to Istanbul with about two thousand guards. They were thereafter taken under protection at an unknown site in Anatolia against the possibility of an attack on Istanbul. And they are still being kept under protection at Topkapı Palace accompanied by round-the-clock recitation of Holy Quran in compliance with their importance and meaning. This man who conducted this disrespect and uttered this slander, on the other hand, wouldn’t even know if asked what these relics are. They are so ignorant.”
President Erdoğan stated that the truth behind what is currently happening in Al-Quds wouldn’t be understood unless it is known that Al-Quds had been under Ottoman rule for centuries, and said: “If we do not know our struggles in Libya and Yemen, we cannot explain to anyone the reason behind our current sensitivity concerning these regions.”
President Erdoğan drew attention to the fact that Yemen is smothered in blood and fire due to infighting. Stating that many other regions are in a similar situation, President Erdoğan made the following remarks: “These incidents taking place in lands where we lived in peace for centuries truly hurt us. It would not befit our dignity to disregard the situation of our brothers and sisters while we strive to overcome our own issues. For this very reason, even though we know that we will pay the price for it, we shall continue to defend the rights of our brothers and sisters with whom we share a common history and civilization as we’ve lived side by side for centuries.”
“You cannot buy off Turkey’s democratic will”
President Erdoğan touched upon the UN General Assembly vote on Al-Quds and the threatening statements of the U.S. prior to the voting and made the following remarks: “What does the U.S. President do? He makes threats. What is the threat? He says ‘We provide hundreds of thousands of millions and even billions of dollars. There are some who act against our thinking, we note down each and every one of them.’ And what do they call the U.S.? The cradle of democracy. The cradle of democracy seeks to buy off the will of others. Mr. President, you cannot buy off Turkey’s democratic will with dollars, our decision is clear. And I call out to the whole world. Do not even think about selling off your will in your democratic struggle in exchange for a few dollars. You may take those dollars but you can never take back your sold off will, hence your stance is highly important.”
Referring to the threats by American authorities, President Erdoğan indicated that countries must question “what kind of a democracy this is” and underscored that the democratic struggle would only be viable if each country is allowed to express its will freely and if the will of no country is bought off or silenced. President Erdoğan added: “I hope that the U.S. does not obtain the result that they expect. At this point, I hope and I expect the world to give the U.S. a good lesson.”
