Mr.Johann Fritz
Director
International Press Institute (IPI)
Spielgasse 2/29
A-1010 Vienna
Austria

Dear Johann,

When I was talking with Ferai Tınç on Jyllands-Posten issue, I happened to learn that, you are also very much interested in what to say and what would be the remedy for such inflammatory situations.

My memory reminds me that we have tried to find a democratic and reasonable solution in the past. Unfortunately we (The Turkish Press Council and World Association of Press Councils) have not been able to make ourselves and our proposals understood correctly. In fact some our friends –due to the efforts of Ronald Koven, Claude Moisy, Rosemary Righter and Claude-Jean Bertrand- became suspicious, if we are trying to play into the hands of some dictators.

I hope you will remember that, our proposal was to create a “Voluntary Mechanism for Transnational Media Complaints” which had nothing to do with all –obviously ungrounded- accusations.

On the other hand, I also remember that on 27-28 October 1999 you have brought this problem to the attention of Press Council representatives in Vienna. Unfortunately Mr.Edward Seaton of ASNE and Mr.Guy Black of British Complaint Commission tried to block any attempt to find a solution.

With my letter now, I am sending a book –the minutes of the Istanbul Conference in 1998- with the hope that, it may help to refresh our deliberations and may be a contribution to those who are trying to find a solution to such issues that we are all facing now.

Best regards.

Oktay Ekşi
Chairman of Turkish Press Council (TPC)