July 15 Coup Attempt Discussed in Detail at GPI

The July 15 coup attempt was discussed in detail at a panel held in New York by the Global Policy Institute (GPI), a nonpartisan think tank based in the US capital.

The panel titled "Anatomy of the Failed Coup Attempt in Türkiye," held at the Harvard Club, was followed by representatives of the US and international media as well as UN representatives, academics, politicians, embassies and leaders of international non-governmental organizations. The panel, which brought together prominent names from Türkiye and around the world in order to accurately convey the July 15 coup attempt internationally and correctly inform the public and the media, was moderated by former Prime Minister of the Republic of Türkiye Mesut Yılmaz. Minister of Foreign Affairs Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu was the keynote speaker of the event. Referring to what he experienced on the night of July 15, Çavuşoğlu said: "We know what happened on the night of the coup, those who lived through it know, but our European and American friends ignored it. Our people, regardless of ideology or party, men and women alike, poured into the streets solely to protect democracy. We need to sustain this spirit of unity and national solidarity and this culture of consensus. Our duty is to strengthen civilian democracy in Türkiye. We are working toward this."

Stating that there is a need for objective and balanced institutions such as the Global Policy Institute, founded in 2014 under the leadership of BAU Global Chairman Enver Yücel with the aim of offering analyses and solutions to global issues with a nonpartisan and scientific approach, Minister Çavuşoğlu said: "So far, we have extradited nine of the 10 people whose extradition the US has requested from us. We also accepted the extradition of one more, but that person could not be found. Our expectation from our ally and model partner, the US, is to extradite the person who planned this coup to Türkiye as soon as possible, and first of all to arrest him. This person continues his threats from the US." Stating that there were 500 people placed in his ministry by FETÖ, Çavuşoğlu said: "Of course, it is not possible for me to work with these people. We are dismissing public employees identified as FETÖ members." Former Prime Minister Mesut Yılmaz, who moderated the panel, stated that on July 15 Türkiye needed the support of the US and said, "Unfortunately, it took far too long for this support to come." Yılmaz said: "How could such a group have organized itself in a modern country like Türkiye? What were their main plans, what would have happened if they had succeeded? Even the Turkish people are still confused about what happened. What happened in Türkiye also affected other countries and Turkish-American relations," and continued: "For 70 years, America has been a very important figure for Türkiye in terms of democracy, justice and economic development. On July 15, the support of the US was badly needed, but unfortunately this support came very late. The first to congratulate the Turkish people on their stance against the coup was Russian President Vladimir Putin. Everyone in Türkiye, from all walks of life, has a very strong belief in democracy. However, it took time for the US to understand Türkiye's situation." Stating that, according to the evidence collected, FETÖ's role in organizing this coup had also been proven by various witness statements, Yılmaz said: "It was only a matter of time before the coup attempt led to a civil war."

In his statement, BAU Global Chairman Enver Yücel emphasized that this event was organized because of what happened on July 15, saying: "Together with our moderator, former Prime Minister Mesut Yılmaz, and very distinguished panelists, we had the chance and the opportunity to explain what happened in Türkiye objectively to the American public, the American media, think tanks and university faculty members. As non-governmental organizations, universities and think tanks, we also need to explain the events in Türkiye to the world. It is not enough to expect this only from the state; we also need to explain such events objectively to the international public. That is why we organized this fine event."

Noting that universities and think tanks in Türkiye should organize such events, Yücel stated that they would hold the same event in Berlin and Brussels as well.

Speaking at the panel, Prof. Dr. Gülnur Aybet, Head of the Bahçeşehir University Department of Political Science and International Relations, stated that the coup looks different from the outside and from the inside. Aybet said: "Our Western allies did not stand by Türkiye against the coup as we expected them to. Türkiye was left alone and, even worse, criticized. The loss of hundreds of lives did not find a place in the Western press. While reporting on the coup attempt, the Western press did not show the facts. It is not easy to break the anti-American perception that emerged after the coup attempt in Türkiye."

Stating that Fethullah Gülen had infiltrated the state bureaucracy from the lowest levels for about 40 years and aimed to take over the state completely, Emeritus of the Princeton University Center for Atatürk, Ottoman and Modern Turkish StudiesProf. Dr. Heath Lowry said: "Their aim is to have the children of the leading figures of the countries where they establish schools study in their schools and to gain influence in the ranks of the state."

Another speaker of the panel was retired US Army Brigadier GeneralMark Kimmitt. Stating that he was in Taksim Square one week after the coup attempt, Kimmitt said: "Everywhere was decorated with Turkish flags. Cosmopolitan urban Turks were demonstrating against the coup. These people were there of their own free will, not because anyone forced them. I saw this very clearly and it impressed me greatly." Underlining that there must always be civilian control over the military, Kimmitt continued: "Türkiye is a strong and valuable ally for the US in a very difficult geography. We need to find answers to the question of what must be done to prevent other coups."