Transportation, Maritime and Communications Minister Ahmet Arslan stated that Türksat Gölbaşı Campus was a milestone in the failure of the 15 July coup attempt by the Fethullah Terrorist Organization (FETÖ).
Arslan said that because Türksat employees refused to help coup plotters the facility grounds were damaged, but that there were no disruptions in the satellite broadcasts, he continued by saying:
“It is because of Türksat staff heroically defying the coup plotters on 15 July, there were no interruptions in broadcasts and people were informed properly. Thus, our citizens went out onto the streets to stand behind their leaders. ‘I stand with my President, my Prime Minister, the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, which represents my free will’ is what they said.”
Arslan pointed out that on 15 July, Turkish people showed the world what it means to act with awareness and consciousness of being a nation. He underlined that those who attempted the coup seemed to defend the Republic of Turkey and Islam, but in fact these traitors were the ones who damaged these values in the first place.
“Türksat suffered 7 million liras in damages, grew 11 percent”
Arslan, stated that the terrorist disguised soldiers who wanted to prevent Turkey’s growth and continuity made a serious attempt to do so, he continued his speech as follows:
“Right after the pirated announcement broadcasted through TRT had been cut off, Türksat became a target for the junta soldiers and helicopters. While trying to defy the coup plotters, personnel Ahmet Özsoy and Ali Karslı heroically became martyrs, where as Ferhat Derecik, Muhammed Emin Sergili, Bilal Davut Hasetçi and Halil Ersoy became veterans from the wounds they obtained.”
Arslan pointed out that the terrorist organization and its supporters put forth extraordinary efforts that night in order to prevent national channels from standing by the state and informing the citizen. He noted, “With the awareness of the task at hand, our personnel didn’t not provide the necessary support they needed, they put forth extraordinary effort in the name of providing continuous broadcast support to institutions that broadcast in our country.”
Arslan noted that with a different order the junta soldiers decided to vacate the settlement upon understanding that the channels could not be stopped from broadcasting, and later the settlement was bombed.
Arslan reported that the building which was bombed by a jet on 15 July at Türksat Gölbaşı Campus, can no longer be used and that approximately 7 million liras were spent to repair the entire compound including the damaged uplinks. Arslan stated the structure that had turned to debris will be enclosed with glass and monumentalized and added that the opening of the monument will take place at the memorial ceremony to be held on 14 July.
Despite the unfavorable events that took place last year, Türksat continued to grow in all sectors. Arslan said that net sales of the company, which was 846 million liras in 2015, increased by 11 percent in 2016 to 941 million liras and this year it aims to pass 1.1 billion liras in net sales.
Arslan said that Türksat Gölbaşı Campus was a milestone for the failure of the coup attempt, he added, “The traces of 7 million liras of damages that came about here has been cleared and the company has grown by 11 percent.”
Arslan said Türksat, which did not slow down last year’s investments, invested over 141 million liras in the satellite, cable and IT fields. He added, “We plan to invest over $ 1 billion over the next 3 years to make Türksat one of the leading companies in Turkey and the world.”