David Ignatius – After His Words, Erdoğan Left Davos

David Ignatius (born May 26, 1950) is an American journalist and writer of Armenian descent, as well as a columnist at “Washington Post”. His novel “Body of Lies” was made into a film of the same name by director Ridley Scott.

In January 2009, one incident was widely publicized at the World Economic Forum in Davos, where David Ignatius, serving as the moderator of Israeli president Shimon Peres’ discussion with then Turkish prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, interrupted the emotional speech of the Turkish Prime Minister, citing the need to comply with the regulations.

Erdoğan complained that the President of Israel was given 25 minutes to speak, while he was given significantly less. The Turkish prime minister asked David Ignatius to allow him to speak again and was provided with one minute.

Continuing to blame Peres, Erdoğan, in particular, said: “I am very sorry that people applauded your words today. Indeed, many people died in Gaza. And I think that this is wrong and completely inhuman.”

Ignatius noted in response: “We cannot start the discussion again. We just don’t have enough time.” Erdoğan said: “Please, let me finish.” To which Ignatius said: “We really need people to have lunch.”

After these words, Erdogan stood up and said: “Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you very much. I do not think that I will ever return to Davos.” He then left the hall.

The incident acquired a special piquancy after it turned out that David Ignatius, the moderator of the discussion, was of Armenian descent. He himself wrote about this in an article in the Washington Post on October 14, 2007: “I am an American Armenian, and some of my relatives died during the genocide.”