Headline:
Turkish Embassy Clarifies Erdogan‘s ‘Walk Out’ During Prabowo‘s Speech at D-8 Summit in Cairo
Subhead:
President Erdogan’s departure from the room during Prabowo’s address sparks speculation, but Turkey‘s ambassador to Indonesia assures it was’)based on international meeting etiquette.
Byline:
CNN Indonesia – Jakarta
Article:
In the aftermath of a viral video showing President Recep Tayyip Erdogan leaving the room as Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto began his speech at the Developing Eight (D-8) Summit in Cairo, the Turkish Embassy in Indonesia has spoken out to clarify the situation. Turkey’s Ambassador to Indonesia, Talip Küçükcan, has dismissed suggestions that Erdogan’s departure was a sign of disrespect, attributing it to common practices in international forums.
The incident, which occurred on Thursday (Dec 19), saw Erdogan walking out of the room while Prabowo was delivering a speech on international law and the treatment of Muslim nations. In one video circulating online, Erdogan can be seen accidentally nudging Prabowo’s chair as he exits.
Küçükcan issued a statement on Monday, aligning with the Indonesian Foreign Ministry’s previous explanation. He cited a statement by Indonesian Foreign Ministry spokesman, Rolliansyah ‘Roy’ Soemirat, highlighting the flexibility allowed to delegation leaders in international meetings.
"Each delegation has the right to decide when its head will sit at the delegation’s seat or leave the room," Roy had said in a written statement, as quoted by Küçükcan. "This is a common practice in international forums, including those held at the United Nations."
Roy also noted that delegates often have parallel meetings during international events. He confirmed that Prabowo had brief meetings with all delegation heads, including Erdogan, before and after the summit. Despite the viral video, both leaders held a friendly meeting during the luncheon following the summit.
Social media users had been abuzz with speculation surrounding Erdogan’s departure. However, the Turkish Embassy’s statement has provided clarity on the matter, attributing it to routine practices in international meetings.
In unrelated news, a CNN Indonesia exclusive video shows the incident from the presidential secretariat’s perspective, with multiple delegates, including Erdogan, leaving the room as Prabowo spoke on Israel’s violations of international law and the perceived lack of respect for Muslim nations.
