Contrary to what\u2019s been said in the pro-government media in Turkey, President Recep Tayyip Erdo\u011fan\u2019s\u00a0 three-day official visit to the UK has turned out to be rather counterproductive.<\/p>\n
His hosts, the British government, came under intense criticism<\/a> for ignoring the convention that they do not invite political leaders who are in the midst of an election.<\/p>\n Prime Minister Theresa May was accused of failing to uphold her country\u2019s own values in the interest of trade deals.<\/p>\n Liberal Democrat leader Sir Vince Cable said<\/a>: \u201cMay’s administration appears to have substituted diplomacy for sycophancy in its pursuit of Brexit\u201d.<\/p>\n However, not everyone had a bleak view of the visit. The Times newspaper, in its lead article<\/a> on May 15, claimed it was the right time to do business with Mr. Erdo\u011fan \u2018despite the many reservations about his domestic crackdown\u2019. \u201cThe relationship may determine the future of Nato\u201d, it added.<\/p>\n The Daily Telegraph agreed. \u201cIt is in Britain’s national interest to welcome Turkey’s president Erdo\u011fan\u201d its lead article<\/a> commented.<\/p>\n Press freedom campaigners, trade unions and protestors held noisy demonstrations outside the Prime Minister\u2019s office and The Royal Institute of International Affairs, Chatham House, where President gave a speech.<\/p>\n Reporters Without Borders published an open letter<\/a> to British prime minister, asking her to call publicly for the release of over 100 jailed journalists in Turkey.<\/p>\n During their joint press conference, Prime Minister Theresa May talked about the need for Turkey to uphold democratic values and human rights. Ignoring the comment, Mr. Erdo\u011fan berated journalists present for asking about their Turkish colleagues in jail. \u201cYou have to make a distinction between terrorists and journalists. We are talking about those who have been caught red-handed bearing weapons, those who have been killing people,\u201d he said, adding: \u201cYour sources are not healthy. The terrorists will not make good journalists.”<\/p>\n Rebecca Vincent, UK Bureau Director for Reporters Without Borders, told me \u201cthe protests in London made it clear clear that President Erdo\u011fan cannot simply carry on with business as usual and expect there to be no public pressure when he travels to democratic countries\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cAlthough we welcome the Prime Minister’s statement that she has urged President Erdo\u011fan to uphold democratic values and international human rights obligations, we are disappointed that she failed to call for the release of the dozens of journalists jailed in Turkey, instead allowing Mr.Erdo\u011fan in the same press conference to label them as ‘terrorists’. We will continue urging the UK government to strengthen its position when it comes to human rights and fundamental freedoms in its bilateral relations with Turkey”, she added.<\/p>\n If the British media was taken aback by President Erdo\u011fan\u2019s replies, senior representatives of investment funds, banks and companies went away from their private meetings with the President and his very large delegation even with greater astonishment.<\/p>\n The first shock came with the televised interview<\/a> with Bloomberg TV\u2019s Guy Johnson, in which President Erdo\u011fan declared his intention to assume a greater role in determining Turkey\u2019s monetary policy after the June 24 elections.<\/p>\n