Turkish media mogul seeks end to row with PM

Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan has accused Dogan, owner of Turkey's largest media group, of using his print and broadcast empire to defame the government and the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) with reports of alleged corruption.

The government denies any corruption links.

"It is not up to me how far (this row) will go. It's outside my control. As far as I'm concerned this is about how tolerant the government will be to democracy and if we abide by the rule of law," Dogan told Reuters in an interview late on Tuesday.

Tensions have flared over the past week between the government and the country's largest independent media group, Dogan Holding, over its coverage of corruption allegations.

The issue has prompted debate about press freedom in the European Union candidate country.

Dogan said his media group was not out to crush the government and if it issued positive news announcements, such as EU reforms or fiscal discipline, they would be published. But he stressed Dogan would continue to report on corruption.

"We are ready to support the prime minister when we think he does the right thing, like EU integration and Cyprus," Dogan said.

He acknowledges that the row has hurt his business interests, too.

Shares in media firm Dogan Yayin Holding and its parent Dogan Holding have fallen sharply on investors worries the standoff could hurt the firms' media-to-energy business interests with annual sales of around $8 billion.

Dogan said his companies, ranging from media to energy, were in good shape and will weather the current slowdown in the economy and a row with Turkey's prime minister.

"Those attacks by the prime minister have put great pressure on Dogan stocks ... But the companies are solid, well managed and will be fine," he said clutching a set of prayer beads.

"The crisis is not affecting the companies' results," he added.

PRESS FREEDOM
The European Union has been looking closely at questions such as press freedom and human rights in Turkey as part of entry negotiations. The government has introduced liberal reforms in many areas but still faces pressure from Brussels.

The AKP first came to power in 2002 with a promise of clean politics and anti-graft steps after a series of corruption scandals under previous governments.

A trial in Frankfurt involving a German-based Islamic charity accused of embezzlement and illegally distributing millions of euros to Turkey, including to a pro-government religious television channel, has been given wide coverage by Dogan media.

Dogan, who controls almost half of Turkey's media, has been accused of waging a campaign against Erdogan and his AKP in recent years.

Dogan rejected charges that his media were guilty of biased reporting, saying the huge success of his papers and channels -- ranging from Hurriyet to CNN Turk -- was proof that Turks supported the news outlets. He said strict rules governed their reporting.

"Media and political power do not get along well for long. Any party that comes to power and assumes huge power doesn't want to be challenged," Dogan said.

Erdogan has demanded that Dogan disclose his motives for the coverage of the corruption case and accused him of publishing the allegations as punishment for his firm's failure to get approval for a major real estate expansion deal in Istanbul.

"The prime minister has to recognize us not as a rival or as an enemy but as a normal player in a democracy ... he should be proud that we have a free media in Turkey," Dogan said.