Government convinced of presence of conspiracy

ANKARA

A report by a daily newspaper suggesting the presence of an international conspiracy behind the Gezi unrest found enthusiastic support from the government.

When asked about daily Yeni Şafak’s report that had said a scenario focusing on a possible revolt in Istanbul was discussed at a meeting held at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) in February, Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdağ drew attention to the international media’s unrest coverage, which he said was biased.

“It is very clear that all of this is a planned incident aimed at disrupting the democratic atmosphere in Turkey, manipulating our people against the government by using Gezi Park as a pretext,” Bozdağ told TV8 channel yesterday. Yeni Şafak said the AEI’s activities were supported by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), known as an American pro-Israel lobby. Similar provocations have taken place in the past as well, EU Minister Egemen Bağış told Kanal 24 news channel when asked about the same report. “When you line the facts up next to each other, then this interest rate lobby...” Bağış said, using a term floated by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to describe an alleged group that profits from high interest rates.