Erkan's field diary

Just came back from TESEV's headquarters in Karaköy. After the Hrant Dink assassination, Mr. Mahçupyan became the chief editor of the Armenian Turkish newspaper, Agos. He was a regular columnist for Zaman daily, and before that he contributed to Radikal. He is known to have radical democratic views and according to a Vikipedi entry his polemic with liberal scholar Atilla Yayla a few years ago was one of the most of productive intellectual exchanges in recent times. Anyway, he is also in charge with some TESEV projects and i visited him there. The interview was one of the least productive ones I ever conducted. He was in a hurry and he did not think he could be helpful. Even the very short exchange of views is a gem for me but i was quited disappointed, i have to say.

After a bit of waiting, thanks to Prof. Haluk Şahin, Mr. Ekşi invited me to his office in Hürriyet building and we had a relatively successfull conversation. Among the interviewees so far, he is one of the most Euro-sceptic columnists. Though this was particularly what I wanted to achieve. So i am glad to have him in my list. Mr. Ekşi a very well established columnist and he is also currently the head of the Turkish Press Council....