NATO Secretary General Rutte answers question on Deniz Göktaş

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte held a press conference ahead of the 36th NATO Summit of Heads of State and Government to be held in Ankara, and after his remarks answered questions from members of the press.

A Dutch journalist who spoke at the meeting asked a question about jailed comedian Deniz Göktaş and the detentions carried out ahead of the NATO Summit.

DENİZ GÖKTAŞ AND THE DETENTIONS WERE ASKED ABOUT

The journalist asked Rutte the following question:

"You thanked the hosts. In the past few weeks, steps have been taken here against dissidents and especially against a comedian. Do you think Ankara is the best place for liberal democracies to gather? Will these issues be discussed with President Erdoğan?"

"DEMOCRACY IS MUCH MORE THAN ELECTIONS"

Rutte gave the following answer to the question:

"Democracy is much more than elections. It also means free media, it means independent media. It means being able to ask all the questions you want, write the articles you want, carry out the investigations you want. Democracy also means, of course, that people can demonstrate as they wish. It does not mean only free elections. When it comes to the media, of course it is also very important within NATO that the media be able to access NATO meetings."

Deniz Göktaş, who was targeted after his stand-up show titled "Dead Sea," had been jailed pending trial on charges of "inciting the public to hatred and hostility or degrading the public" and "insulting the President."