IKV Chairman Ayhan Zeytinoğlu issued a statement on some news in the media regarding the support of TOBB, which is a prominent trustee of IKV, to the think tank GMF. IKV Chairman Zeytinoğlu stated that the aforementioned news was far from being in good faith and that the cooperation, which was aimed at promoting Turkey abroad and defending our theses, was distorted and used as a means of a disinformation campaign. IKV Chairman Zeytinoğlu said the following:

“As IKV, we are an organisation which aims to contribute to Turkey’s relations with the EU and to better promote Turkey and defend its interests abroad, especially in Europe. The Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB), our prominent trustee, was criticized for some unfair news in the press. The aforementioned news are targeting TOBB’s assistance to the think tank GMF. TOBB’s support to GMF completely aims to better promote Turkey abroad and defend its interests. Rather than being appreciated, this support has been unfairly criticized as part of a disinformation campaign. TOBB has been carrying out activities to boost Turkey’s lobbying power in Brussels and Washington for many years. Moreover, these activities are carried out within the knowledge of our state, with the demand and approval of our public institutions such as the Presidency, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Trade. Within this framework, along with GMF cooperation was developed with influential think tanks such as CSIS and the Atlantic Council to increase Turkey’s lobbying power and to make the dynamism of the Turkish economy more visible. These have been admirable activities for the promotion of Turkey abroad and should be followed with appreciation instead of being unfairly criticized in the media in this way.

IKV Chairman Zeytinoğlu emphasized that TOBB’s cooperation with GMF was initiated at the end of 2016, with the knowledge and consent of the Ministry of Trade. IKV Chairman Zeytinoğlu concluded his remarks as follows:

“The work carried out by TOBB with the GMF is a work that was initiated at the end of 2016 with the approval of our Ministry of Trade. The cooperation was based on the instruction of our state to be active on all platforms in response to the smear campaigns launched by Fethullah Gülen Terrorist Organisation (FETÖ) against our state after the 17/25 December process and the 15 July failed coup attempt. In this context, when a negative agenda was stirred up against Turkey especially in the last 5 years, many studies were carried out and meetings were held to create a positive agenda. In addition to our private sector representatives, many officials representing our state attended these meetings such as Presidential Spokesperson Prof. İbrahim Kalın, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Director for EU Affairs Ambassador Faruk Kaymakcı and the then Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Turkish Grand National Assembly Ambassador Volkan Bozkır. Payments were not made in the form of ‘guarantee payments’ or ‘donations’, but in return for documents regarding the personnel employed and the expenditures made. At a time when we need to strengthen Turkey’s positive perception abroad the most, it is extremely sad that such a smear campaign is carried out against an organisation like TOBB which represents the Turkish economy and works day and night to defend our country’s interests and development both at home and abroad.”