Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu on Saturday took a break from a live news conference to talk to the father of a soldier who was killed in northern Iraq on the same day and offer his condolences to him before the cameras.
Davutoğlu was speaking to reporters at İstanbul’s Atatürk Airport before departing for a visit to Jordan.
When one of his security guards approached with a mobile phone, Davutoğlu offered his apologies to the press members and said he would like to have the phone conversation with the father of slain soldier Cengiz Cazgır because he was expecting the phone call.
Cazgır was killed in an attack from the terrorist group the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).
During the phone conversation, the prime minister offered his condolences to the Cazgır’s father, Haluk Cazgır and said he wants to give the family a visit when he travels to western province of İzmir, the hometown of Cazgır’s family.
After the phone conversation ended, Davutoğlu told the press members that the father said “may our homeland live” when he wished them strength over the loss of their son. He said as long as the Turkish nation acts like the father of the fallen soldier, no problem will be left unsolved in the country.
Many social media users have accused the prime minister of making a show for talking to the fallen soldier’s father during a live broadcast. In addition, Davutoğlu has attracted much criticism for having a smile on his face during the entire phone conversation.