Costner 'conscripted' into Turkish debate over the Kurdish initiative

Whether Kurds want a separate state or not, the discussion of the Turkish government’s “democratic initiative,” a move designed to solve the Kurdish problem, has been dominated by possible changes to the Constitution and education in Kurdish. 

In addition to these things, however, there is one other topic receiving significant attention in connection to the initiative: the alleged support of popular American actor Kevin Costner for the move.

After Oktay Vural, the head deputy of the opposition Nationalist Movement Party’s, or MHP, parliamentary group learned that Costner had not issued any support for the “democratic initiative,” the deputy president of the ruling Justice and Development Party, or AKP, Edibe Sözen, the originator of the Costner claim, issued a statement saying that there was no misunderstanding on the issue. This notwithstanding, the commentary on what Costner said differs.

At the end of last month, Sözen said Costner supported the democratic initiative. She also said on Oct. 16 when Costner comes Turkey for a concert he would give a clear message on the initiative. As a result, Costner attracted the attention of the opposition parties and was harshly criticized by their leaders. However, Vural pursued the issue and contacted Costner managers to confirm whether or not he had really said he supported the AKP’s work. On Wednesday, Vural relayed a message from Costner’s managers that the actor does not consider himself authoritative enough to comment on the domestic issues of Turkey. Furthermore, Costner never commented on the issue, his managers said. Vural said the Turkish nation faces a psychological war into which popular names from abroad have also been conscripted.

Sözen, on the other hand, issued a press statement after Vural, saying that the AKP had not called Costner like Vural, but that the actor had reached them through the organization company he works with in Turkey. “They asked us if our party has any information on the democratic initiative and we sent them a couple of documents,” she said. When questioned by journalists on the issue, Sözen said they made the statement about Costner’s support after confirming whether or not the documents had reached Costner and whether or not he had commented on it.  

However, the organizing company told the story differently. After the debate between the MHP and the AKP emerged, the owners of Costner’s organizing company, Ahmet San and Cüneyt Oran, intervened in the debate. “On Sept. 15, Ahmet San called the AKP’s Promotion and Media Directorate and asked whether Turkey had an official view on human rights and democracy, and if so, where one could get a written form of this. After this, 10 copies of a book called the ‘Historical Speech’ were sent to us. One copy of the book was forwarded to Kevin Costner along with some other people,” the statement said. Afterward, Sözen called San and invited Costner to the AKP congress on Oct. 3, though Coster responded that he would not be able to come because he would be at a tournament, the statement said. “Costner said he would be in Turkey on Oct. 16 for a concert, and this plan was communicated to Sözen. Moreover, it was also stated that the book, ‘Historical Speech’ was delivered to Costner,” the statement said.

In relation to the “democratic initiative,” Costner’s only mention of the matter was also included in the company’s statement as follows: “Kevin Costner said he is always sensitive to issues of human rights and democracy throughout the world, and especially stated that he would like to reach his beloved Turkey and the people living in Turkey with his music, movies and love.”