Turkish President’s uncle Abdullah Satoglu: “It is impossible to doubt Abdullah Gul’s family tree”
"I always say that I wish he were my uncle"
00:16 / 18.12.2009 What is the aim of your visit to Azerbaijan?
-This is my second visit to Azerbaijan. In 2004 I came to Baku to participate in the events “Caspian poem evenings”. Now I have been invited to the 75th jubilee of Azerbaijani Writers’ Union. I am 75 years old and I have been in this sphere for 60 years. I am glad that my 75th jubilee and the 75th anniversary of Azerbaijani Writers’ Union coincide. We are satisfied with the attention of Turkish ambassador to Azerbaijan Hulusi Kilic. It is good that along with the Azerbaijani poets and writers, the Writers’ Union also pays attention to foreign poets and writers. I should say that Baku has developed much in terms of architecture and economy in the past five years.
-You are uncle of Turkish President Abdullah Gul…
-Yes, I am. But I always say that I wish he were my uncle.
-Why?
-Maybe I can not help him as an uncle…
-Does he help you as a nephew?
-He has no time, he will certainly do if he has time.
-Doesn’t he meet with you?
-Of course we meet. We are a family.
-Are you interested in politics?
-No, I don’t. I left politics in Kayseri (city where Abdullah Gul was born - editor) in 1970 and went to Ankara. Since then I have been living in Ankara. In 1960 I was chairman of Kayseri organization of the Justice Party led by Suleyman Demirel. Later, I again put forward my candidacy, but was not elected. So, I left politics.
-There are some claims in Turkey concerning Abdullah Gul’s nationality. They say he maternally has relationship with Armenians…
-Let’s not return to these topics. President Abdullah Gul’s family came to Kayseri as imam of Guluk mosque established during the reign of Saljugs in 1200. They are known in Kayseri as Guluk imams. Later, law on “Surname” was adopted and they received the surname of Gul.
-So, he has Turkish background?
-No one in Turkey has so deep family tree as Abdullah Gul. Maternally our dynasty dates back to Sheikh Ibrahim, one of the famous scientists of the times of Fatih Sultan. In this respect, it is impossible to doubt Abdullah Gul’s family tree.
-Your names are similar. Was he given this name in honor of you?
-Maybe…
-Are you satisfied with Abdullah Gul’s presidency?
-Of course. I was his teacher at school. He had great interest in science, art and literature. This continues.
- What about the recent initiatives of Turkey? The Armenian, Kurdish, Alawi initiatives, opening of borders with Armenia…
- I don’t concern myself with politics. Politicians know that. This is a government policy.
- But you are well-known writer….
- Literature and politics are different spheres. This is a government policy and I keep a distance and I don’t pass all bounds.
- You know that the issue of opening the borders caused a protest in Azerbaijan….
- This is a job of politicians. Our government will take action within the interests of all Turks over the world and it is doing so…
- Does it mean that you don’t believe in the opening of borders?
- The issue is not that I don’t believe in it, it would be opened, but within the interests of Turks. The government is thinking about everything.
- What is your opinion about Orhan Pamuk’s Nobel Prize?
- Of course, he is a Turkish writer. It is positive case that the Turkish writer receives Nobel Prize. But this is another question that we welcome this subject or not. The main thing is that a Turkish writer receives this prize.
- It seems they don’t like Orhan Pamuk in Turkey…
- There are people who like him, and also who don’t like.
- Do you like him?
- I haven’t read his works.
- How many books have you published so far?
- I’ve published nearly 20 books and five of them are poems. Others are researching works about Kayseri. I wrote encyclopedia about Kayseri. This is first encyclopedia about a Turkish province. The book was published by the Ministry of Culture in 2002. My poems were published under the title of “Lale”. Letters of the word “Allah” create the word “Lale”. On the other hand, lale is a tulip, which is a symbol of Islam and Ottoman Empire. It is a symbol of Turkish taste, Turkish spirit and stainless love. Therefore I used the word of “lale” in my works.
- Do you read the works of Azerbaijani writers or poets?
- I know Bakhtiyar Vahabzadeh and Anar.Bu yazı ( 388 ) - dəfə oxunmuşdur
