German Journalist Keese was Misunderstood

"While traveling in Asia, Prime Minister Erdogan could not remember our interview at Davos which took place the week before. Considering Erdogan has so many interviews, this situation is understandable. After talking with friends in Ankara, he confirmed the interview. Turkey reported that I had referred to the Prime Minister as a liar. I made no such expression either written or verbally." Keese said in a letter to the Cuneyd Zapsu, the PM’s adviser.

Keese also wrote that some of the statements published in the Turkish press were not accurate and that the interpretation of what Erdogan had said was also inaccurate.

"When the PM stated that he was a "devout muslim", the Turkish press spun this into a statement pressing for a distinction to be made between "devout" and non-devout", such a distinction is completely unnecessary." Added Keese in the letter sent to Ankara.