President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan slammed the international media for portraying terrorists as heroes and ignore their victims, and turning a blind eye on the deadly July 15 failed coup attempt which left at least 248 people. He urged Turkish people to tell the story of the deadly coup through literature and arts.
"The double standards the international media organizations use in covering the incidents we have undergone in recent years is known," President Erdoğan told the opening ceremony of the Fourth Istanbul CNR International Book Fair, whose theme this year is the July 15 failed coup attempt.
Saying that the world turned a blind eye to Turkey's glorious victory over the coup attempt, Erdoğan stressed that repeatedly telling the story of what happened the night of July 15 through literature and the arts is important.
"It is the binding duty of all of us to hold onto this legacy," he said. "As always, we cannot count on the conscience or actions of others."
The July 15 failed coup attempt, led by U.S.-based Fetullah Gülen and the Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ)-left at least 248 people killed and nearly 2,200 injured.
The fair will feature an exhibition on the July 15 coup bid sponsored by Anadolu Agency. Events and panel discussion about the defeated coup will also take place during the 10-day fair.
Lamenting statistics showing that Turkish citizens still read an average of only 10 hours a year, Erdoğan said Turkish authorities are trying to boost literacy and reading.
"I believe that Turkey must be among world's top 10 not only in economics but also in culture and the arts," by 2023, the country's centennial, he said.
According to Erdoğan, the presidency is currently working on a new project to build a library and an all-purpose exhibition hall south of the presidential palace. He said the library would be open to everyone, 24 hours a day.
It will have 5 million hardcover books, including manuscripts and rare books, electronic books, periodicals, and special collections, he added.
"There are libraries across the world which leave traces, change the path of library science, and lead the nations' future," he said. "Hopefully, this presidential library will serve as a model and mark an era."
