Questions over Livaneli's unannounced candidacy came to light when journalist Can Dündar raised the issue in his column this week. Responding to Today's Zaman, Livaneli stated that he had never thought about being a candidate for the secretary-general position but was first approached by some of his friends in UNESCO and some international intellectuals to consider it in January. He said a US foreign ministry official called him at the end of January in that regard and then he was contacted by the Foreign Relations Committee of the US Congress telling him that they would contact Turkish officials. Livaneli said European Union officials were also supportive of him.
Livaneli was contacted by President Abdullah Gül's adviser Zeynep Damla Gürel, who told him that America was interested in his candidacy and had inquired about him, which pleased the Turkish officials. Livaneli said even though he told the people who are supportive of him that he would consider such a position, he did not establish close contact with the Turkish officials mainly because he was going through an operation at that time.
“Later, both the officials from the president's office and Minister Davutoğlu said that they were sorry about the developments and that they were not against me in any way. I believe their sincerity. I think what happened is that some Western states had given support to my candidacy against the Egyptian candidate. But the Turkish government might have been engaged with Egypt over this post. The OIC [The Organization of the Islamic Conference] was also supporting the Egyptian candidate, so the Turkish government did not want to put me forward against him,” Livaneli said, adding that the Arab world had been waiting for the top UNESCO post.
Davutoğlu, however, told members of the press who were inquiring about the issue on the sidelines of a meeting in İstanbul that neither Livaneli nor other persons on his behalf “officially contacted them until the final days.”
In addition, Davutoğlu said: “Considering the geographical groupings, it is not Turkey's turn to be a candidate for the director's post. But despite this, we would do whatever we could for the selection of Mr. Livaneli, whom we see as a respectable artist, if such a candidacy was suggested.”
