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“Tom Barrack’s statements carry the traces of an old mindset that sees the peoples of the Middle East not as the subjects of democratic republics, but as communities that must be kept under strong central authorities. Yet the last century of the region has shown that one-man regimes have brought neither peace, nor prosperity, nor stability. What this geography needs is not the worn-out authoritarian molds of the past, but a new vision of the future based on popular sovereignty, strong institutions, and democratic republics.” THE MENTALITY OF THOMAS JOSEPH BARRACK JR. The language Tom Barrack has used recently must be read carefully in Türkiye and in our region. Because the issue is not merely a few sentences uttered by an ambassador. The real issue is the mentality behind those sentences. The framework Barrack builds around the Ottoman millet system, strong leadership, and forms of governance supposedly unique to the region, even if not stated openly, feeds the following perception: Türkiye and the peoples of the Middle East are seen not as equal citizens within modern democratic republics, but as communities that need to be governed under strong central authorities. Yet my article published on April 16, 2026, titled “ON THE THRESHOLD OF A NEW AGE: STRATEGIC AWAKENING AND DEMOCRATIC UNITY IN EUROPE AND THE MIDDLE EAST,” was precisely an objection to this understanding. There I wrote: “For the awakening of the region, dynasties and dictatorships must be replaced by Democratic Republics based on the will of the people.” Today, it is clear why this sentence has become even more important. Because Barrack’s language evokes not the strengthening of popular sovereignty, but the legitimization of strong centers in the name of governability. In countries based on strong institutions, an independent judiciary, an effective parliament, and an established republican culture, foreign intervention is more difficult. But in structures where decisions are concentrated in the hands of a few people, it becomes easier for foreign powers to pursue their objectives through a narrow circle. That is why the following sentence from the same article must be remembered once again today: “Republican culture and democratic maturity are the only true guarantees of security, both for investors and for human dignity.” Indeed, the foundation of security, prosperity, and stability is not palaces, dynasties, or foreign-backed strongmen. The real guarantee is institutions based on law, equal citizenship, and democratic legitimacy. THOSE WHO TRY TO DESIGN REGIMES FOR US SHOULD FIRST LOOK AT THEIR OWN HISTORY Those who attempt to design regimes for us should first look at their own history. Those who destroyed the lands, lives, and futures of Indigenous peoples on their own continent; those who dehumanized millions through the system of slavery; and those who then built a superpower upon all these great injustices have no standing to lecture other nations on statecraft or regimes. When one looks at the record of those who today preach democracy, freedom, and human rights to the world, one sees the elimination of Indigenous peoples, wealth built on slave labor, racial segregation, foreign interventions, and countless double standards. For those carrying such a heavy historical burden to speak to Türkiye or the peoples of the Middle East with the air of “this is the most suitable form of government for you” is not only political arrogance, but also a profound moral inconsistency. Therefore, the issue is not only what Barrack says. The issue is also the historical and political ground from which he speaks. A representative of a power that has not fully established equality in its own country and has not completely healed its own internal wounds cannot act as an arbiter over what kind of regime other societies deserve. HOW COMPETENT IS HE IN THE FIELD HE SPEAKS ABOUT? There is another issue here as well. In terms of his career path, Barrack is not a constitutional lawyer, political theorist, or historian. He is primarily a figure who comes from the line of business, finance, investment, and political proximity, and who was later appointed to a diplomatic post. The pages of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Embassy in Türkiye also introduce him first as the founder of “Colony Capital,” established in 1991, and as a private equity executive. Colony Capital, which became DigitalBridge in 2021, is an organization founded by Tom Barrack, whose origins lie in real estate-focused private equity and investment management. In the simplest terms, it is not a single construction company in the classical sense, but rather an investment platform that raises capital, acquires assets, manages them, restructures them when necessary, and seeks to generate returns from them. Such a background does not grant the competence to pass judgments on a country’s regime, founding philosophy, or historical state mind. What he speaks of is merely the imposition of matters that may provide commercial advantage. An ambassador conducts relations on behalf of the state he represents. He is not sent to direct the regime of the host country, question its constitutional preferences, or propose a historical model to it. Diplomatic status grants the authority to represent. It does not grant the authority to exercise tutelage. No ambassador holds the office of passing judgment on the regime of the country in which he serves. International law grants diplomats the authority to represent, not the authority to exercise guardianship. Article 41 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations makes non-interference in the internal affairs of the host state an explicit obligation. Despite this, speaking from above about Türkiye’s constitutional order and republican regime is not diplomacy. It is political arrogance that crosses the line. BORDERS DRAWN WITH A RULER AND THE DEAD END OF ONE-MAN REGIMES Many states in the Middle Eastern geography were shaped not by the natural historical and social development of peoples, but largely by the legacy of foreign interventions, mandate systems, and borders drawn with a ruler. Yet what is even more important is the nature of the political regimes built upon this structure. A very large part of the region has been governed since its foundation not by strong republican institutions based on popular sovereignty, but by coups, dynasties, security states, and one-man-centered approaches to governance. Decades have passed, leaders have changed, alliances have dissolved and been reestablished, but the system has not changed. What has often changed is merely the names, and among which internal and external circles the wealth belonging to the peoples of the region has changed hands. When we look at Barrack’s career background, what appears before us is not so much a diplomatic state mind, but a profile emerging from investment, private equity, real estate, and international business circles. This strengthens the impression that in his view of the region, he prioritizes geopolitical stability, economic opening, and governable power centers that will work in harmony with external actors rather than democratic legitimacy. This is exactly why the strong central authority model implied by Barrack is deeply problematic. Because this is not a new prescription for the Middle East. On the contrary, it is another name for the old disease from which the region has long suffered. One-man regimes have not brought lasting prosperity, freedom, or justice to this region. Presenting the same worn-out model again as if it were a solution is to speak not to the future, but to the past. For this reason, the following sentence from my previously published article is even more meaningful today: “For the awakening of the region, dynasties and dictatorships must be replaced by Democratic Republics based on the will of the people.” Because what the Middle East needs is not to replace one strongman with another strongman. What it needs is to break free from fragile orders tied to individuals and to reach a political ground based on rules, institutions, law, equal citizenship, and accountable governance. THE MESSAGE DELIVERED THROUGH THE OTTOMAN MILLET SYSTEM Barrack’s references to the Ottoman millet system are also problematic in this respect. The Ottoman millet system was not a democratic model based on equal citizenship in the modern sense. It was a hierarchical imperial order in which religious communities were governed separately and which rested upon the authority of the sultan. Presenting such a system as a source of inspiration for today’s Türkiye or the Middle East is a sign of a perspective that keeps its distance from the idea of the republic. What we need, however, is not to carry the hierarchies of the past into the present, but to build the democratic unity of the future. That is why, in my previously published article, I made the following observation: “The intervention of an overseas power in the region in line with its own interests” and “the resolution of regional problems by the actors of this region themselves.” The Barrack debate has made these sentences even more visible. Because many minds looking at the region from the outside do not see this geography as a community of peoples that need to be liberated, but as a geopolitical chessboard that must be balanced. When viewed this way, what gains importance is not democracy, but control; not the republic, but governability; not popular sovereignty, but central authority. EUROPE, TÜRKİYE, AND REGIONAL DEMOCRATIC WILL Yet the true historical task before Europe and the Middle East is this: to grow democratic cooperation based on regional will, not authoritarian equations shaped by external guidance. For this reason, the following approach I used in the same article is even more important today: “The EU and Türkiye should join hands to form a peace shield that will prevent the destructive interventions of ‘third countries.’” This is not merely a diplomatic proposal. It is also a regime preference. The new relationship to be built between Europe and the Middle East must rise not on the axis of strongmen, but on the basis of strong institutions, the rule of law, technological independence, and popular sovereignty. Indeed, another important section of my article emphasized exactly this: “To break its technological dependence on the United States, the EU has launched a struggle for digital sovereignty through projects such as ‘Euro-Office’ and ‘GAIA-X.’” Technological sovereignty and political sovereignty are not separate from each other. Societies that leave their defense, data, software, security, and strategic direction to others eventually become dependent not only economically, but also in terms of political thought. Likewise, the following observation is much more meaningful today: “Relying on U.S. protection in matters of security has created a ‘strategic blindness’ that has caused Europe to fall behind in technological and military R&D.” Those who entrust their defense to others, after a while, become vulnerable to external influence not only in their security preferences, but also in their political imagination. That is why what Europe, Türkiye, and the region need is not new dependencies, but a new democratic strategic mind. THE DESTINY OF THIS GEOGRAPHY IS NOT AUTHORITARIANISM My view is clear. Türkiye and the peoples of the Middle East deserve the republic, secularism, equal citizenship, and democratic maturity. The problem of this geography is not that it is unfit for democracy. The problem is that it has long been trapped among foreign interventions, internal tutelages, dynasties, and regimes of fear. For this reason, the following sentence is not only an idea today, but a historical call: “A Middle East that becomes conscious through education, prosperous through industry, and free through democracy will be Europe’s safest neighbor.” This is the real issue. The old mindset sensed in Barrack’s implications wants to see the region as a space governed by strongmen, framed from the outside, and made to accept historical hierarchies. The future we must defend is the exact opposite: a regional future strengthened by education, made independent through technology, developed through industry, and dignified through the republic. CONCLUSION: A NEW POLITICAL MORALITY AGAINST THE OLD MINDSET Barrack’s words have shown us once again that there are still those who speak about our region with old imperial minds, old habits of tutelage, and old geopolitical arrogance. The most correct answer to them is this: First, confront your own history.First, complete the moral accounting of your own country.First, look at the great gap between your claim to democracy and your historical record.Only then attempt to come and tell other nations what kind of regime they deserve. But the destiny of this geography can no longer be written from the outside. Türkiye, Europe, and the peoples of the Middle East now have a new choice before them: the easy path of strongmen, or the difficult but honorable path of democratic republics? My answer is clear: The future of our region lies not in dynasties, but in democratic republics. The path to peace lies not in foreign intervention, but in regional will. The real guarantee lies not in authoritarian centers, but in republican culture and democratic maturity. Until we meet in my next article, I wish you well.

"At the most critical crossroads of its history, the European Union stands between the risk of becoming a "museum continent"  and the opportunity to become a global "balancing power."  The future will be built not only with technological tools but also with a sincere democratic vision that extends beyond borders." Ayhan KIZILTAN, ben@ayhankiziltan.com , Mersin April 18, 2026 TECHNOLOGICAL SOVEREIGNTY AND THE SPIRIT OF "DIGITAL AIRBUS" The EU has launched a struggle for digital sovereignty with projects like “Euro-Office”  and “GAIA-X”  to break its technological dependence on the US. However, this effort must not be limited to software packages. The spirit of collective success captured in the Airbus project must be revitalized today in the digital world and high technology. While establishing its own data infrastructure, the EU must also transform into an agile structure that makes swift decisions by purging itself of its cumbersome bureaucracy. STRATEGIC ERRORS AND THE END OF THE "SECURITY ILLUSION" For many years, the EU cut defense spending and diverted these resources to social welfare and the development of member states with weaker economies. Relying on the protection of the US created a "strategic blindness"  that caused Europe to fall behind in technological and military R&D. However, the crises in Ukraine and the Middle East have harshly taught the EU that security cannot be bought; it must be built. This "awakening"  is the primary driving force that will save the EU from the risk of becoming a museum continent. FROM CULTURAL ISOLATION TO A UNIVERSAL EMBRACE The EU’s greatest strategic error has been closing itself off to the world by imprisoning itself within the clutches of a specific religious and cultural unity. Yet, democracy is a universal heritage of humanity. The EU must stop excluding its secular and powerful allies that have reached democratic maturity, such as Turkey, and instead sincerely embrace them. The full integration of Turkey into this structure will provide the EU with the dynamism, logistics, production power, and vision it requires. REGIONAL WILL AGAINST TRANSOCEANIC INTERVENTION At the root of the turmoil in the Middle East lies the intervention of a transoceanic power in the region in line with its own interests. The main objective of this power is to destabilize the region to sell weapons through chaos and exploit resources. The only way to break this cycle of exploitation is for regional problems to be solved by the actors of this very region. The EU and Turkey must join forces to create a peace shield that will prevent the destructive interventions of "third countries." FROM DYNASTIES TO DEMOCRATIC REPUBLICS For the awakening of the region, dynasties and dictatorships must be replaced by Democratic Republics  based on the will of the people. The greatest antidote to radicalism is not dogma, but democratic maturity and a culture of compromise. The wealth of the region must be spent not on palaces and weapons, but on the education, welfare, technology, and future of its people. If the wealth of the Middle East is rescued from the pockets of dynasties and dictators, there will be no need for the EU or Turkey to provide additional resources. PEACE THROUGH EDUCATION AND INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION The foundation of peace and prosperity is a modern and universal education system. The EU and Turkey must take a leading role in education to ensure the young population of the region is raised with modern science. The vision of shifting the industrial load of the Marmara region to Anatolia and the Mersin-Çukurova  axis is a prototype for a grand development model that will encompass the entire region. A Middle East that becomes conscious through education, prospers through industry, and is liberated through democracy will become Europe’s most secure neighbor. CONCLUSION: A HISTORICAL RESPONSIBILITY What we need today is not the chaos scenarios of the transoceanic power, but a sincere cooperation flourishing along the Ankara-Brussels line. If the EU turns back from the mistake of isolationism and shows the courage to transform the region into a basin of peace together with Turkey, it will carry not only itself but the entire world toward a more peaceful future. It must be remembered that: Republican culture and democratic maturity are the sole guarantees of trust for both investors and human dignity. I look forward to meeting you in my new article next week. Goodbye!

Ayhan KIZILTAN, ben@ayhankiziltan.com.tr , Mersin, Türkiye, 28 March 2026 Today is March 28, 2026 . The smoke rising in the Middle East comes from the debris of not only buildings but also the international legal norms that humanity has built with immense effort. This massive tension on the USA-Israel-Iran  axis is actually the manifestation of a "global system error" that has been woven stitch by stitch for decades. From the perspective of a mechanical engineer, I see that the world today is experiencing a "Single Point of Failure"  crisis. Entrusting global security and the fate of billions of people to the initiative of just a few leaders, or the "power lobbies" that pull their strings like puppets, is the greatest proof of systemic collapse. Economic Impacts of War: "The Greatest Trade Rupture in 80 Years" International sources describe this process as a supply chain crisis deeper than the pandemic. On a Global Scale: Energy Shock:  Brent crude prices surged by more than 40%  compared to pre-war levels, exceeding $115  per barrel. In Europe, natural gas prices doubled in just three weeks. Logistics Collapse:  The simultaneous destabilization of Hormuz and the Red Sea forced global trade to divert toward the Cape of Good Hope. This situation increased container costs by 300%  and extended delivery times by 2-3 weeks. Growth Loss:  The WTO (World Trade Organization) announced that if the war continues this way, a loss of at least 0.3% to 1%  in 2026 global GDP growth is expected. Specifically for Türkiye: Current Account Deficit Pressure:  Türkiye’s energy import bill is under great risk. Economists warn that a permanent rise in energy prices could push the current account deficit-to-GDP ratio above 3% . Cost of Living and Inflation:  The process of price increases, which was already unstoppable before the war, accelerated further due to fuel prices following the start of the conflict. Alternative Route Role:  The blockage of sea routes on the East-West axis has made Türkiye’s land and rail connections (the Middle Corridor) a vital alternative. Strategic Goals of the USA and Israel For the parties involved, this war is not just a military operation but an attempt to determine the next 50 years of the region. Israel’s Goal:  For Israel, this war is described as an "existential cleansing". The primary goal is to physically destroy Iran’s nuclear capacity and logistically paralyze the "Axis of Resistance" (Hezbollah, Houthis, etc.) stretching from Lebanon to Yemen. The Israeli administration has shifted from a strategy of "mowing the grass" to "high-level leadership elimination" aimed at directly shaking the regime. The ultimate goal is to bring the Middle East to its knees and expand its territory by bringing the USA to its side. The USA’s Goal:  Washington aims to permanently disable Iran’s ballistic missile and drone production infrastructure. Under the Trump administration, the ultimate goal is to force Iran into "unconditional surrender," breaking Iranian guardianship over global energy routes (Strait of Hormuz) and establishing a new security architecture in the region. Essentially, the primary goal is to seize all resources in this geography. Israel and the "Regional Security Paradox" In foreign sources, Israel's military doctrine in the region is often analyzed as "survival instinct turning into aggression". Nuclear Non-Transparency:  Israel’s nuclear weapons—unacknowledged but known by everyone—render the regional power balance asymmetric in Israel's favor. This serves as the primary fuel for countries like Iran seeking "nuclear deterrence". Humanitarian Devastation and Trust Crisis:  Operations conducted without regard for civilians, children, or the elderly are rapidly eroding Israel's claim of "self-defense" in the eyes of the international community. The scale of civilian casualties in this 2026 operation is interpreted as a "historical collapse of trust in Israel" not only among regional peoples but also within NGOs in Western capitals. Who Can Trust? The Risk of the Future The answers to these questions explain why the world is evolving into a "Multi-Polar"  structure: Fear Replaces Trust:  States no longer trust international law or the protection of a major power; they rely on their own defense industries and regional alliances. Moral Crisis:  A power (USA or Israel) winning militarily does not mean it has won morally or politically. The greatest loss of this 2026 war has been the belief in the concept of "universal human rights". "Authority" Debate and International Law Analysis The USA’s intervention from across the ocean causes a serious legitimacy crisis in international law: UN Charter Article 51:  The USA and Israel defend the attacks under "preemptive self-defense". They present Iran's nearing of nuclear weapon capability and the "imminent threat" to US assets in the region as legal justification. Legal Vacuum:  Critical foreign sources (Guardian, Just Security) emphasize that this operation, launched without UN Security Council approval, is a "violation of sovereignty". It is stated that the concept of "imminent threat" is being expanded and used as it was during the 2003 invasion of Iraq, weakening the international legal order. Jurisdiction Issue:  The USA sees ensuring the security of its regional allies (Israel and Gulf countries) as a "global gendarmerie" mission. However, jurists remind that for "collective self-defense," there must be an explicit call for help from the victim state, whereas this operation began largely unilaterally. Unfortunately, law has fallen behind power dynamics. Two fundamental rules are being violated in the current conflicts: Principle of Proportionality:  A response to a military threat must be at a level to neutralize that threat. Bombing civilian infrastructure (hospitals, water facilities) directly violates this principle and falls under "war crimes". Principle of Distinction:  The necessity to distinguish between combatants and civilians. Despite the "precision strike" capability of modern munitions, the high rate of civilian deaths shows this principle is being ignored under the label of "collateral damage". The Position of Russia and China: "Strategic Opportunism" While Beijing and Moscow avoid direct involvement in the war, they seek to turn this chaos to their advantage: Russia  condemns the attacks rhetorically but does not send military aid. Oil prices rising above $110 eases its budget. It diverts the West's attention away from the Ukrainian front. China  calls for "calm and diplomacy" while continuing to buy Iranian oil by bypassing sanctions. Its energy supply security is at risk. It finds an opportunity to reduce pressure over Taiwan by disrupting the USA's "Asia-Pacific" focus. Russia and China do not want Iran to collapse completely, as that would mean the Middle East becoming an American lake. However, they refrain from risking their own military forces for Iran. They tend to manage this situation as "controlled instability". "Shadow Governance" of Power Lobbies and Puppet Leadership Risk More dangerous than a leader being malicious is them being inconsistent and open to manipulation. In the modern world, "power lobbies" (arms lobbies, energy giants, financial cartels) make strategic decisions based on short-term profit maximization rather than rational state reasoning. Asymmetric Decisions:  If a president is under the influence of defense industry lobbies, turning toward policies that fuel conflict instead of peaceful solutions becomes a "commercial necessity". Loss of Accountability:  Since these lobbies are not elected, they cannot be held responsible for the human costs (civilian deaths, destroyed cities) of their decisions. Piercing the Institutional Shield The claim of democratic systems is that "institutions are superior to individuals." However, as seen in recent years, powerful lobbies and populist waves can bypass these institutional structures (Foreign Ministry bureaucracy, judiciary, oversight mechanisms). A leader commanding nuclear codes or a massive army being able to take operational decisions as easily as sending a "tweet"—without passing through an institutional filter—creates an unpredictability nightmare  for the whole world. When power is concentrated in one hand, international law ceases to be a "tool of justice" and becomes a "cover" that the strong fits to their own actions. Social and Humanitarian "Side Effects" The massacres carried out without regard for "civilians, the elderly, or children" are the bitterest result of this uncontrolled power. Erosion of Trust:  No one looks at a superpower or its ally as a "bringer of justice" anymore. This creates a global "moral vacuum". Radicalization:  Arbitrary bombings and unjust occupations do not just cause physical destruction; they also sow seeds of irreparable "anger" and "radicalization" in future generations. This ultimately creates a greater security threat for the countries holding that "power" in the long run. The USA's Dark Algorithm: The Dictator Production Line The USA's foreign policy has a dark algorithm that has remained unchanged for years, functioning like a factory setting. The operating principle is this: first, install a "useful" dictator who is easy to manage at the head of the country you intend to exploit. Through him, quietly exploit that country's underground and surface resources. Subject this installed dictator to "power poisoning" with the unlimited means you provide, so he becomes detached from his people, turns authoritarian, and begins to oppress his own citizens. When the dictator outlives his usefulness or becomes uncontrollable, the USA steps onto the stage wearing a "savior" mask. The same USA sends troops under the lie of "bringing democracy to your country," and overthrows that dictator by burning and destroying. Libya, Iraq, and Syria  are the freshest and most painful examples; now they are trying this in Iran. I ask you: which oppressed people has the USA truly developed to date? In which geography it entered has it established peace and prosperity?. We all know the answer: None!  All that remains are ruins with displaced resources. The Desperation of "Long Live My King" and the Handover of Resources The greatest accomplices of this exploitative order in the region are the dictators who give themselves titles like king or emir. These individuals have surrendered unconditionally to the USA and Israel just to protect their own sultanates and palaces. The USA has been exploiting the resources of these countries for years; in return, it provides "throne insurance" for these dictators. Peoples are deliberately left helpless and ignorant, pushed into religious and sectarian conflicts. Because a questioning public is the greatest threat to this "handover order". While their country's wealth flows to foreign powers, these fake sultanates that make their people say "Long live my king, long live my emir" are actually stealing the future of a geography. For these regimes, it is not national interest but "palace interest" that comes before everything else. Europe’s Existential Fear: "Are We Next?" However, this recklessness is now causing deep concern not only in the Middle East but also in Europe. Europeans, who lived in comfortable prosperity for years by entrusting their security to the USA’s nuclear umbrella, have finally woken up after what happened to Iran and the arbitrary wars in the region. They have realized they can no longer trust a USA led by an unpredictable leader like Trump, who is easily directed by power lobbies. Having seen how countries they previously ignored are being swallowed by powers under the mask of an ally, the following question now echoes in European capitals: "Could they do the same to us tomorrow if our interests clash?" . Indeed, what Trump has said about Europe since the day he was elected is evident. This fear could turn the European Union into a "key actor" poised to disrupt this unjust "new world order" that the USA and Israel want to establish. A Visionary Exit for Türkiye: The Mersin and Çukurova Line So, what should we do in this massive turbulence? The only way for Türkiye to protect itself from this spiral of exploitation and war is to arm itself with strategic intelligence and a democratic shield. Spreading the Burden of Marmara to Anatolia:  Confining our industrial and logistical power only to Marmara is a major security vulnerability. Transferring this load to safe ports and the Anatolian interior—especially to regions with strong potential like Mersin-Çukurova —is not a preference, but a condition for national survival. Becoming a Self-Sufficient Country Again:  We must be a country that is self-sufficient in agriculture, industry, technology, and defense, and capable of offering its production to the world. Education and Culture Mobilization:  We must create an education system that raises our people to—and above—the education and culture levels of the world's most developed countries in every field. Ensuring Internal Unity:  As MHP leader Bahçeli stated, we must ensure internal unity, but without regarding political concerns and interests. Democracy is the Greatest Guarantee:  The real guarantee that will bind a visionary investor and peace to our country is not missile shields, but the unshakable democratic culture of our Republic . A country where democracy and law prevail is the most resilient against scenarios dictated from the outside. In conclusion; the future will belong not to those who sell their people and resources to protect their sultanate, but to those who claim their own inherent power, their own people, and their own freedom. This world order that gives a "single point of failure" will eventually break. Our duty is to have built a Türkiye that is both economically and democratically robust when that day arrives. The future will belong to those who keep justice and humanity alive. Goodbye, until we meet in my next article…

ÖN SÖZ Beş yıl süren Mersin Ticaret ve Sanayi Odası Yönetim Kurulu Başkanlığı görevinden ayrıldıktan sonra, açıkça söyleyeyim, bir boşluk hissettim yaşamımda. Bir anda toplumla bağlarım kesilmiş, iletişimim durmuş gibi bir yanılsama içinde buldum kendimi. Oysa, insanlarla bağlarım güçlü, iletişimim hayli içten ve sıcaktı… Kısa bir süre sonra anladım ki, değişen bir şey yok; toplumla bağlarımın çok sağlam ve karşılıklı iletişim aynı içtenlik ve sıcaklıkla sürüyor. Ama yine de bir boşluk hissediyordum… Neydi bu boşluk? Mersin’e hizmet edemeyecek olmam … Birçok yapı bir araya gelip benim bu kente karşılıksız hizmet etmemi engelleyip MTSO bünyesinde bir çıkar grubunu iş başına getirmek için çabaladılar. Ama başaramadılar; üst düzey bir kamu yöneticisinin söylediği gibi “Ne Ayhan Kızıltan’mışsın be! Birçok yapı bir araya geldi yine de seni deviremediler ”. Evet seçimle beni deviremediler, ama hınçlarını alamamış olmalılar ki, iğrenç bir oyunla beni görevimden ayırdılar. Ayrılırken de onlara teslim etmedim bu kutsal görevi, her yönden güvendiğim dürüst ve genç bir arkadaşımın iş başına gelmesini sağladım. Mersinliler çok dikkatli olmalı , çıkarcılar çok büyük tehlike bu kent için ! Anladım ki, “beni Mersin gündeminden düşürmeye , çıkar gruplarının gücü yetmeyecek !” Görevden ayrıldıktan kısa bir süre sonra yakın dostum Mersin İmece Gazetesinin sahibi Sinan Koç ile bir arkadaşının işyerinde sohbet ediyorduk; aynen şunları söyledi: “Abi, çok çirkin bir şekilde seni görevinden ayırdılar diye bir köşeye çekilip bunca yıllık bilgi birikimini, deneyimlerini gömecek misin ?” “Ne yapayım peki Sinan ?” diye sordum. “Abi yaz; birikimlerini , deneyimlerini topluma aktar .” “Nerede yazayım ?” “Abi bizim gazetede yaz ; istediğin gibi, istediğin konuda , istediğin zaman yaz .” Böyle başladı gazete köşe yazarlığım. Aslında uzun süredir sosyal medyada hayli etkili yazılar yazıyormuşum, paylaşımlarımı okuyanlar söylüyorlar. Demek ki Sinan da farkına varmış kalemimin kuvvetli olduğunun… İşte böyle başladı yazarlığım; yazdıkça yazıyordum, hala da yazıyorum… Sevgili Sinan bu kente hizmet etmenin ille de bir koltukta oturarak olmayacağını anlamamı sağladı bu teklifiyle . MTSO’daki görevimde çok renkli bir beş yıl geçirdim sektörlerle, ekonomiyle, sanatla, kültürle, toplumla çok haşır neşir oldum; konu çok benim için… Siyaset yazıyorum, dış politika yazıyorum, ekonomi yazıyorum, kültür ve sanat yazıyorum, Mersin kenti ile ilgili projelerimi yazıyorum, sanayi ve üretimle ilgili projelerimi yazıyorum, yol gösteriyorum, öneriler sunuyorum, deneyimlerimi aktarıyorum. Kısaca ilham veriyorum, “ilham vermek için yazıyorum ”. Belki ilham alan birileri olur… Peki bu kitabı yazmaya beni ne itti ? Sanatsever dostlarım Baha Sadık Akıner ve Mersin Global Ajans sahibi Gültekin Hakan Koçman da yazılarımı ilgiyle okuyorlarmış… Kitap yazma önerisi de onlardan geldi. Sosyal medya, gazete yazılarım ile ayhankiziltan.com isimli web sitemdeki Güncel Yorum yazılarımı, yazılar deyip geçmeyin, binlerce yazıyı günlerce tek tek inceleyip editörlüğümü yaptılar ve bu kitabı birlikte ortaya çıkardık. Umarım ilham alırsınız… THANKS To my wife Oya Kızıltan and my granddaughter Nil Kızıltan , who have always been patient with me and given me strength and love, even though I stole time I should have spent with them, To my colleagues at my company who kept KIZILTANLAR-Sumas Pump running for five years, To my dear brother Murat İlça , whom I met at the Mersin Chamber of Commerce and Industry, a man with a lionhearted, kind, honorable and upright stance who always supported me, To my 44 loyal and trustworthy fellow members of the Mersin Chamber of Commerce and Industry Assembly who, ignoring all bargaining and offers, unconditionally voted for me as Chairman of the Board in the 2023 elections; they know who they are… To my colleagues at the Mersin Chamber of Commerce and Industry, whose dedicated and disciplined work empowered me throughout my five years of service.

SPECIAL SIGNED COPY FROM THE AUTHOR Read the Foreword Good luck Mersin, good luck Türkiye A powerful testimony, assessment, and call from Mersin to Türkiye, from the city to society, from production to our shared future. When you place your order through this site, you will receive a signed copy of my book. You can also support the TAC Brick Scholarship by purchasing through the TAC Gift Shop. WRITER Ayhan Kızıltan NUMBER OF PAGES 522 CARGO It will be prepared within 2 business days. TYPE Essays/Thought writings The price is 250 TL. SENDING Signed Special Copy Read the articles Read the Sample Pages Obtain it from this site. Request a signed private copy. When you order your book directly from ayhankiziltan.com, your signed copy will be carefully prepared by me and sent to your address. Support the Brick Scholarship by shopping at TAC GIFT SHOP! TAC Gift Shop'tan yapılan alışverişlerde, özel Tarsus Amerikan Koleji mezunları ve öğrencilerine yönelik olarak ödenen tutarın tamamı TAC Tuğla Bursu 'na bağışlanacaktır. Get the book directly from STREET BOOK AND COFFEE HOUSE. Enjoy your coffee and browse your book in a relaxed and peaceful atmosphere. Click here for location. Near Forum Shopping Mall Read the articles Read the articles Good luck Mersin, good luck Türkiye When you place your order through this site, you will receive a signed copy of my book. You can also support the TAC Brick Scholarship by purchasing through the TAC Gift Shop. When you place your order through this site, you will receive a signed copy of my book. You can also support the TAC Brick Scholarship by purchasing through the TAC Gift Shop. Good luck Mersin, good luck Türkiye When you place your order through this site, you will receive a signed copy of my book. You can also support the TAC Brick Scholarship by purchasing through the TAC Gift Shop. When you place your order through this site, you will receive a signed copy of my book. You can also support the TAC Brick Scholarship by purchasing through the TAC Gift Shop. When you place your order through this site, you will receive a signed copy of my book. You can also support the TAC Brick Scholarship by purchasing through the TAC Gift Shop. When you place your order through this site, you will receive a signed copy of my book. You can also support the TAC Brick Scholarship by purchasing through the TAC Gift Shop. When you place your order through this site, you will receive a signed copy of my book. You can also support the TAC Brick Scholarship by purchasing through the TAC Gift Shop.

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