1 00:00:05,240 --> 00:00:11,999 [Music] 2 00:00:32,940 --> 00:00:36,000 [Music] 3 00:00:38,150 --> 00:00:43,739 welcome to Sputnik orbiting the world 4 00:00:40,770 --> 00:00:45,480 with me George Galloway and me Gaffney 5 00:00:43,739 --> 00:00:48,000 practically no one will watch this 6 00:00:45,480 --> 00:00:50,129 program today although you will all have 7 00:00:48,000 --> 00:00:52,770 recorded it because you'll all be 8 00:00:50,129 --> 00:00:55,170 watching the Royal Wedding also at least 9 00:00:52,770 --> 00:00:57,720 a visitor from Venus would conclude if 10 00:00:55,170 --> 00:01:00,059 they scan the British media as a matter 11 00:00:57,720 --> 00:01:02,879 of fact I wholly uninterested in Royal 12 00:01:00,059 --> 00:01:05,370 matters I'm interested in this Royal 13 00:01:02,879 --> 00:01:08,190 Wedding bringing as it does a touch of 14 00:01:05,370 --> 00:01:10,500 colour into a rather grey royal family 15 00:01:08,190 --> 00:01:12,990 it is becoming though like one of those 16 00:01:10,500 --> 00:01:15,690 soap operas or maybe the British 17 00:01:12,990 --> 00:01:18,450 telenovela completely paparazzi and book 18 00:01:15,690 --> 00:01:20,159 deals sisters falling out dreadlocks at 19 00:01:18,450 --> 00:01:22,650 the House of Windsor it might be called 20 00:01:20,159 --> 00:01:25,350 turns out Princess Megan has a family 21 00:01:22,650 --> 00:01:28,520 tree even more tangled than Prince Harry 22 00:01:25,350 --> 00:01:31,290 it's a bonanza for royal aficionados and 23 00:01:28,520 --> 00:01:33,960 commentators that Douai n of which joins 24 00:01:31,290 --> 00:01:36,030 us now he's James Brooks royal 25 00:01:33,960 --> 00:01:38,550 correspondent and director of 26 00:01:36,030 --> 00:01:41,700 broadcasting and communication for royal 27 00:01:38,550 --> 00:01:45,180 central the world's leading news site on 28 00:01:41,700 --> 00:01:48,390 everything British royalty James welcome 29 00:01:45,180 --> 00:01:50,970 to the sputnik how does a young man like 30 00:01:48,390 --> 00:01:53,400 you end up in a place like this well 31 00:01:50,970 --> 00:01:55,920 it's been five years and Counting so far 32 00:01:53,400 --> 00:01:59,610 it's been a quick five years in a very 33 00:01:55,920 --> 00:02:03,090 busy five years but yeah I started out I 34 00:01:59,610 --> 00:02:07,140 saw a job at the palace was going to be 35 00:02:03,090 --> 00:02:09,179 a footman for the for the Royals and I 36 00:02:07,140 --> 00:02:11,250 at the time I was going down to London 37 00:02:09,179 --> 00:02:13,170 study for my year undergrad degree in 38 00:02:11,250 --> 00:02:15,900 journalism and I thought it sounds like 39 00:02:13,170 --> 00:02:17,760 a good job let's let's apply see what 40 00:02:15,900 --> 00:02:19,470 comes a bit put it to the back of my 41 00:02:17,760 --> 00:02:21,540 mind and then a few weeks later I was 42 00:02:19,470 --> 00:02:24,989 invited down to to actually go an 43 00:02:21,540 --> 00:02:27,989 interview for this job and it was the 44 00:02:24,989 --> 00:02:33,269 most in the palace itself and really 45 00:02:27,989 --> 00:02:34,830 really kind of heavy packed day of doing 46 00:02:33,269 --> 00:02:37,680 lots of different things you you had to 47 00:02:34,830 --> 00:02:41,189 be able to mingle with different people 48 00:02:37,680 --> 00:02:42,060 you have to show that you cousin holding 49 00:02:41,189 --> 00:02:44,160 a transit 50 00:02:42,060 --> 00:02:47,790 Atreyu had to I remember the one thing 51 00:02:44,160 --> 00:02:50,970 that we had to do we we had a job we 52 00:02:47,790 --> 00:02:52,489 were given a situation so a an army 53 00:02:50,970 --> 00:02:55,739 general was meeting with the Queen and 54 00:02:52,489 --> 00:02:57,569 he was going to a reception later on 55 00:02:55,739 --> 00:02:59,340 that evening obviously meeting the Queen 56 00:02:57,569 --> 00:03:00,840 he'd be in full uniform and he needed to 57 00:02:59,340 --> 00:03:04,110 get change really quickly to be able to 58 00:03:00,840 --> 00:03:06,360 shoot off to this this dinner and yeah 59 00:03:04,110 --> 00:03:08,580 we had to be sure that his lounge suit 60 00:03:06,360 --> 00:03:12,300 so similar to what I'm wearing now would 61 00:03:08,580 --> 00:03:13,530 be ready for him to just go and and get 62 00:03:12,300 --> 00:03:15,510 into so we had to make sure that 63 00:03:13,530 --> 00:03:17,549 everything from the the belt was in the 64 00:03:15,510 --> 00:03:21,299 belt buckles the right way around the 65 00:03:17,549 --> 00:03:22,940 cufflinks in the shirt and boxing socks 66 00:03:21,299 --> 00:03:24,480 was something I'd never come across 67 00:03:22,940 --> 00:03:27,569 boxing socks 68 00:03:24,480 --> 00:03:29,849 not quite I wish they were but you had 69 00:03:27,569 --> 00:03:33,660 to make sure that the socks were folded 70 00:03:29,849 --> 00:03:36,140 on the on the top of the shoes so that 71 00:03:33,660 --> 00:03:39,299 you could in essence just pull the socks 72 00:03:36,140 --> 00:03:42,390 onto your feet within and you don't have 73 00:03:39,299 --> 00:03:44,519 to worry about you know getting big 104 74 00:03:42,390 --> 00:03:46,079 married absolutely and when you've got 75 00:03:44,519 --> 00:03:47,820 time when you've got only got five 76 00:03:46,079 --> 00:03:50,370 minutes you know pulling your socks up 77 00:03:47,820 --> 00:03:54,510 it takes takes a long time so but ya 78 00:03:50,370 --> 00:03:58,079 know I didn't the only thing I got wrong 79 00:03:54,510 --> 00:04:00,299 I was told was I put the D belt around 80 00:03:58,079 --> 00:04:06,630 the wrong way in the belt loops and so I 81 00:04:00,299 --> 00:04:09,180 didn't get the job and and yeah but it 82 00:04:06,630 --> 00:04:11,519 gave me an insight into life behind the 83 00:04:09,180 --> 00:04:14,760 palace to us and an insight into the 84 00:04:11,519 --> 00:04:17,549 absurdity of it as well as the majesty 85 00:04:14,760 --> 00:04:18,780 of it it's theater it's it's one of 86 00:04:17,549 --> 00:04:21,720 those things that everybody wants to 87 00:04:18,780 --> 00:04:22,979 know what goes on behind those glasses 88 00:04:21,720 --> 00:04:26,970 it's the longest-running show in the 89 00:04:22,979 --> 00:04:30,030 West End no it's you've chosen the right 90 00:04:26,970 --> 00:04:34,050 five years because what a bonanza it has 91 00:04:30,030 --> 00:04:36,750 been but this Royal Wedding today is the 92 00:04:34,050 --> 00:04:38,960 tops is not the cherry on the top of the 93 00:04:36,750 --> 00:04:44,070 cake it is and this week has been 94 00:04:38,960 --> 00:04:48,720 absolutely packed with drama from all 95 00:04:44,070 --> 00:04:52,260 sides of the family we've had Harry and 96 00:04:48,720 --> 00:04:54,589 Megan kind of had this royal bombshell 97 00:04:52,260 --> 00:04:58,319 dropped on them 98 00:04:54,589 --> 00:05:01,759 we now know that Megan's dad not going 99 00:04:58,319 --> 00:05:04,830 to the wedding and it's one of those 100 00:05:01,759 --> 00:05:07,409 sisters writing book we've got two deals 101 00:05:04,830 --> 00:05:11,999 absolutely we've got Thomas Markel 102 00:05:07,409 --> 00:05:13,919 junior half-brother writing that he 103 00:05:11,999 --> 00:05:15,929 Prince Harry should call off the whole 104 00:05:13,919 --> 00:05:17,879 wedding and shouldn't married days later 105 00:05:15,929 --> 00:05:19,830 he's saying actually I know yeah I've 106 00:05:17,879 --> 00:05:21,869 said lots of not nest about you Megan 107 00:05:19,830 --> 00:05:25,139 but we're still family can I have an 108 00:05:21,869 --> 00:05:28,319 invite to the wedding anyway and it's 109 00:05:25,139 --> 00:05:30,479 been a real it's been a real drama of a 110 00:05:28,319 --> 00:05:32,399 week but it's been an interesting one 111 00:05:30,479 --> 00:05:34,379 and I think the one thing that a lot of 112 00:05:32,399 --> 00:05:36,990 people will kind of want to take from 113 00:05:34,379 --> 00:05:38,759 this is that Harry and Megan and it is 114 00:05:36,990 --> 00:05:40,169 their wedding day still and it's one of 115 00:05:38,759 --> 00:05:42,029 the most important days of anybody's 116 00:05:40,169 --> 00:05:43,919 life their wedding and I want to look 117 00:05:42,029 --> 00:05:46,289 back at it with fond memories but 118 00:05:43,919 --> 00:05:49,139 they'll also want to be sure that the 119 00:05:46,289 --> 00:05:51,029 media and the the kind of crowds around 120 00:05:49,139 --> 00:05:53,009 the world because it's got huge media in 121 00:05:51,029 --> 00:05:54,899 my system yeah and we'll get the show 122 00:05:53,009 --> 00:05:56,819 that they've been waiting for and it's 123 00:05:54,899 --> 00:05:58,619 one thing that we do quite well as a 124 00:05:56,819 --> 00:06:01,680 country is the pomp of the ceremony in 125 00:05:58,619 --> 00:06:03,059 the tradition so I think it will be 126 00:06:01,680 --> 00:06:04,680 something that goes down in the history 127 00:06:03,059 --> 00:06:07,439 books and hopefully it'll be something 128 00:06:04,680 --> 00:06:10,189 that say Harry Megan in years to come 129 00:06:07,439 --> 00:06:12,629 will can think yeah we did a good job 130 00:06:10,189 --> 00:06:14,639 obviously all the paparazzi is part of 131 00:06:12,629 --> 00:06:17,279 it but I am a bit surprised that you 132 00:06:14,639 --> 00:06:19,949 know these deals and all the the sister 133 00:06:17,279 --> 00:06:21,629 coming out talking against they're good 134 00:06:19,949 --> 00:06:25,129 all of this might have been avoided good 135 00:06:21,629 --> 00:06:28,919 they're not I've sent someone like you 136 00:06:25,129 --> 00:06:31,110 yeah DeMarco I don't know how much I 137 00:06:28,919 --> 00:06:36,149 would have been able to it's a help with 138 00:06:31,110 --> 00:06:40,129 the situation but bowler hat at palace 139 00:06:36,149 --> 00:06:43,680 officials or a retired Fleet Street news 140 00:06:40,129 --> 00:06:45,930 newspaper editor to go there it would 141 00:06:43,680 --> 00:06:50,039 have been worth the money and mind the 142 00:06:45,930 --> 00:06:55,439 whole menage so that it didn't become 143 00:06:50,039 --> 00:06:58,669 really a rather tawdry show or novella 144 00:06:55,439 --> 00:07:00,659 yeah it's one of those things that 145 00:06:58,669 --> 00:07:03,599 Kensington Palace this week have been 146 00:07:00,659 --> 00:07:06,329 criticized quite heavily for for almost 147 00:07:03,599 --> 00:07:08,100 letting the ball drop ride at the last 148 00:07:06,329 --> 00:07:10,320 second because up 149 00:07:08,100 --> 00:07:13,440 until kind of this week really we've 150 00:07:10,320 --> 00:07:15,390 we've seen the palace trip feeders of 151 00:07:13,440 --> 00:07:18,240 bits of informations about the the 152 00:07:15,390 --> 00:07:20,430 flowers the cake and the music who's 153 00:07:18,240 --> 00:07:22,200 going to be pageboys bridesmaids etc and 154 00:07:20,430 --> 00:07:24,720 though the one thing that a lot of 155 00:07:22,200 --> 00:07:27,510 people are saying is is that why was 156 00:07:24,720 --> 00:07:38,280 Thomas Michael not given the support 157 00:07:27,510 --> 00:07:41,030 media wise before yeah it is the 158 00:07:38,280 --> 00:07:45,840 tradition of every man in this building 159 00:07:41,030 --> 00:07:48,540 asks the father of his intended for her 160 00:07:45,840 --> 00:07:51,480 hand in this case Prince Harry 161 00:07:48,540 --> 00:07:54,390 hasn't even met her father he's not 162 00:07:51,480 --> 00:07:56,670 weird it is a bit strange I think he did 163 00:07:54,390 --> 00:08:00,840 ask for permission it's understood he he 164 00:07:56,670 --> 00:08:02,730 did it over the phone it is one of those 165 00:08:00,840 --> 00:08:05,010 a lot of people have been so why didn't 166 00:08:02,730 --> 00:08:06,570 Harry go out and and meet him to to 167 00:08:05,010 --> 00:08:08,730 prepare him for the fact that he is 168 00:08:06,570 --> 00:08:10,800 gonna have an uphill climb in the 169 00:08:08,730 --> 00:08:13,290 lead-up to the wedding and unfortunately 170 00:08:10,800 --> 00:08:15,780 I mean we've heard that he's had or 171 00:08:13,290 --> 00:08:17,490 supposedly been in hospital having heart 172 00:08:15,780 --> 00:08:19,680 surgery supposedly had a heart attack 173 00:08:17,490 --> 00:08:21,180 because of all the pressure that he's 174 00:08:19,680 --> 00:08:23,790 been under in the run-up to the wedding 175 00:08:21,180 --> 00:08:25,980 and if he thinks that the media 176 00:08:23,790 --> 00:08:27,360 attention is going to go away even 177 00:08:25,980 --> 00:08:28,950 though he's not at the wedding and he's 178 00:08:27,360 --> 00:08:30,120 not going to be involved unfortunately I 179 00:08:28,950 --> 00:08:32,280 think he's got a bit of a shock because 180 00:08:30,120 --> 00:08:35,910 now that Megan's coming into the Royal 181 00:08:32,280 --> 00:08:38,099 fold that's it media attention will be 182 00:08:35,910 --> 00:08:40,530 on her entire family just as it was for 183 00:08:38,099 --> 00:08:43,740 for Kate when she married William for 184 00:08:40,530 --> 00:08:48,360 Diana which as I'm seeing a lot of eerie 185 00:08:43,740 --> 00:08:51,660 echoes of what happened to Diana no 186 00:08:48,360 --> 00:08:54,420 potentially happening to Megan no I 187 00:08:51,660 --> 00:08:58,890 think she's fantastic breath of fresh 188 00:08:54,420 --> 00:09:03,210 air black and actress beautiful and so 189 00:08:58,890 --> 00:09:06,540 on a lot of the British press coverage 190 00:09:03,210 --> 00:09:08,640 especially in right wing royalist 191 00:09:06,540 --> 00:09:11,520 newspapers like the male group for 192 00:09:08,640 --> 00:09:14,190 example it's really snobbery isn't it 193 00:09:11,520 --> 00:09:17,040 it's really reflecting the fact that 194 00:09:14,190 --> 00:09:19,170 like and Widdecombe famously on Big 195 00:09:17,040 --> 00:09:20,529 Brother or wherever she was loved Island 196 00:09:19,170 --> 00:09:26,139 maybe 197 00:09:20,529 --> 00:09:29,050 that the that this black common common 198 00:09:26,139 --> 00:09:31,660 our American family are really 199 00:09:29,050 --> 00:09:33,850 cheapening the the royal brand doesn't 200 00:09:31,660 --> 00:09:36,999 it's not really what lies behind a lot 201 00:09:33,850 --> 00:09:38,740 of the scarcely veiled hostility there's 202 00:09:36,999 --> 00:09:40,089 a lot there there has been a lot of 203 00:09:38,740 --> 00:09:43,959 hostility and it's one of the things 204 00:09:40,089 --> 00:09:46,059 that Harry has already called out quite 205 00:09:43,959 --> 00:09:48,339 early on and he wanted to make sure that 206 00:09:46,059 --> 00:09:50,649 Megan was actually welcomed into the 207 00:09:48,339 --> 00:09:53,139 family and she felt comfortable marrying 208 00:09:50,649 --> 00:09:55,540 him because we've seen from his previous 209 00:09:53,139 --> 00:09:57,999 relationships that the reason that he's 210 00:09:55,540 --> 00:10:00,749 not settled down before now is because 211 00:09:57,999 --> 00:10:05,620 the the women and the girls that he's 212 00:10:00,749 --> 00:10:07,899 previously been linked with aware of 213 00:10:05,620 --> 00:10:09,910 what it means to be marrying into the 214 00:10:07,899 --> 00:10:12,189 royal family and Harry wanted to be sure 215 00:10:09,910 --> 00:10:14,079 that Megan knew that from the get-go and 216 00:10:12,189 --> 00:10:16,779 a lot of people a lot of the press 217 00:10:14,079 --> 00:10:19,209 giving her a hard time in the lead-up I 218 00:10:16,779 --> 00:10:23,740 personally think it's a yeah it's a it's 219 00:10:19,209 --> 00:10:28,300 a fab moment for the royal family to be 220 00:10:23,740 --> 00:10:30,279 able to kind of just take stock you know 221 00:10:28,300 --> 00:10:34,870 we're big fans of the American sitcom 222 00:10:30,279 --> 00:10:37,540 Modern Family this is a truly modern 223 00:10:34,870 --> 00:10:38,889 match isn't that it is it's one of the 224 00:10:37,540 --> 00:10:41,529 things I was in Nottingham when they 225 00:10:38,889 --> 00:10:43,930 announced ed they they were to get 226 00:10:41,529 --> 00:10:45,519 married and they were going down to do 227 00:10:43,930 --> 00:10:48,160 their first engagement after that and 228 00:10:45,519 --> 00:10:49,899 you just saw the connection that they 229 00:10:48,160 --> 00:10:51,730 had with the crowds that were there so 230 00:10:49,899 --> 00:10:54,069 there were groups of school kids lined 231 00:10:51,730 --> 00:10:58,089 up and they were going down just having 232 00:10:54,069 --> 00:10:59,649 a chat Harry just talking about normal 233 00:10:58,089 --> 00:11:01,389 things that you would to any I don't 234 00:10:59,649 --> 00:11:03,069 know 13 14 year old what are you doing 235 00:11:01,389 --> 00:11:04,329 this weekend you playing football or 236 00:11:03,069 --> 00:11:07,750 what what are you up to 237 00:11:04,329 --> 00:11:12,370 it's the one thing that I think a lot of 238 00:11:07,750 --> 00:11:14,769 people find relatable about Harry and 239 00:11:12,370 --> 00:11:16,600 Megan and to some extent William and 240 00:11:14,769 --> 00:11:18,069 Kate although William Kate a little bit 241 00:11:16,600 --> 00:11:20,050 more pressure because William knows he's 242 00:11:18,069 --> 00:11:21,819 going to be king Harry knows that he's 243 00:11:20,050 --> 00:11:24,100 got a little bit more weight off his 244 00:11:21,819 --> 00:11:27,189 shoulders because he's not but they are 245 00:11:24,100 --> 00:11:29,350 relatable in compared to the likes of 246 00:11:27,189 --> 00:11:32,589 the Queen Prince affiliate Charles 247 00:11:29,350 --> 00:11:33,760 Camilla and but having said that that's 248 00:11:32,589 --> 00:11:37,090 what they need they need 249 00:11:33,760 --> 00:11:39,460 to know that in 10 15 20 years time if 250 00:11:37,090 --> 00:11:41,230 the monarch is to survive it needs to 251 00:11:39,460 --> 00:11:42,970 modernize it needs to change with times 252 00:11:41,230 --> 00:11:44,860 and if it doesn't they run into issue 253 00:11:42,970 --> 00:11:46,690 you were quite lucky that you didn't get 254 00:11:44,860 --> 00:11:49,120 that job as a footman because you're a 255 00:11:46,690 --> 00:11:51,850 much better royal commentator last 256 00:11:49,120 --> 00:11:54,550 question briefly you better make the 257 00:11:51,850 --> 00:11:57,340 most of this because it'll be a long 258 00:11:54,550 --> 00:12:00,190 time before those an occasion as big as 259 00:11:57,340 --> 00:12:03,310 this just I mean what's the next one 260 00:12:00,190 --> 00:12:06,190 after this well we obviously have 261 00:12:03,310 --> 00:12:08,230 princess Eugenie's wedding in in October 262 00:12:06,190 --> 00:12:10,390 it's not it's not gonna be as big as 263 00:12:08,230 --> 00:12:13,600 this not in the same chance design 264 00:12:10,390 --> 00:12:15,700 conference League yeah it will still 265 00:12:13,600 --> 00:12:18,160 have media coverage it will chances are 266 00:12:15,700 --> 00:12:19,660 still make newspapers and headlines 267 00:12:18,160 --> 00:12:22,600 around the world but not to the same 268 00:12:19,660 --> 00:12:24,400 extent so the big weddings probably 269 00:12:22,600 --> 00:12:34,300 Prince George I would have staged what 270 00:12:24,400 --> 00:12:36,130 no four four it's one of those things 271 00:12:34,300 --> 00:12:38,110 that will have a long time to wait and 272 00:12:36,130 --> 00:12:39,940 that's why this wedding has so much 273 00:12:38,110 --> 00:12:42,520 significance of the minute a lot of 274 00:12:39,940 --> 00:12:44,920 people waiting and if they've been royal 275 00:12:42,520 --> 00:12:47,530 fans for years and they want to make the 276 00:12:44,920 --> 00:12:49,510 most of it before they well you may see 277 00:12:47,530 --> 00:12:51,580 most of it to make you well the Sun 278 00:12:49,510 --> 00:12:51,820 shines thanks very much Jim for joining 279 00:12:51,580 --> 00:12:53,980 us 280 00:12:51,820 --> 00:12:56,730 coming up next we'll be talking Turkey 281 00:12:53,980 --> 00:12:56,730 don't miss it 282 00:12:57,620 --> 00:12:59,680 you 283 00:13:04,960 --> 00:13:10,310 [Music] 284 00:13:07,480 --> 00:13:13,100 welcome back to Sputnik Britain 285 00:13:10,310 --> 00:13:15,310 historically propped-up Turkish Sultan's 286 00:13:13,100 --> 00:13:18,500 in the great game of the 19th century 287 00:13:15,310 --> 00:13:21,710 even fighting a war with Russia in the 288 00:13:18,500 --> 00:13:23,720 Crimea to do so with the collapse of the 289 00:13:21,710 --> 00:13:26,390 Caliphate at the end of World War one 290 00:13:23,720 --> 00:13:29,570 the British adjusted easily to the era 291 00:13:26,390 --> 00:13:31,130 of the secular caliphs at a torque even 292 00:13:29,570 --> 00:13:34,010 more easily with his dictatorial 293 00:13:31,130 --> 00:13:37,970 successors embracing Turkish membership 294 00:13:34,010 --> 00:13:40,790 of NATO the rise and rise of an Islamist 295 00:13:37,970 --> 00:13:43,310 Sultan in the form of air dogon has been 296 00:13:40,790 --> 00:13:46,390 more of a challenge turkey's current 297 00:13:43,310 --> 00:13:49,940 position as an ally of Russia and Iran 298 00:13:46,390 --> 00:13:53,150 arrival to Saudi Arabia and a disrupter 299 00:13:49,940 --> 00:13:55,730 of NATO's relationship with Israel has 300 00:13:53,150 --> 00:13:58,310 made things even more complicated so 301 00:13:55,730 --> 00:14:01,250 president Erdogan's appearance this week 302 00:13:58,310 --> 00:14:03,200 behind the sublime Porte Buckingham 303 00:14:01,250 --> 00:14:05,770 Palace would have made for the most 304 00:14:03,200 --> 00:14:08,390 fascinating fly-on-the-wall documentary 305 00:14:05,770 --> 00:14:11,930 joining us to untangle the knots is 306 00:14:08,390 --> 00:14:14,870 Turkey expert and director at Eurasia 307 00:14:11,930 --> 00:14:18,410 future Adam Geary Adam welcome to the 308 00:14:14,870 --> 00:14:20,960 Sputnik first of all to be hit the the 309 00:14:18,410 --> 00:14:23,750 Aldo Gans state visit passed off almost 310 00:14:20,960 --> 00:14:26,840 without notice was it therefore of no 311 00:14:23,750 --> 00:14:29,600 significance or was it perhaps secretly 312 00:14:26,840 --> 00:14:31,760 a matter of some significance well I 313 00:14:29,600 --> 00:14:35,150 think the truth is somewhere in between 314 00:14:31,760 --> 00:14:37,640 it was when you combine a country like 315 00:14:35,150 --> 00:14:39,980 Turkey that's always been significant 316 00:14:37,640 --> 00:14:42,050 and particularly for Britain because it 317 00:14:39,980 --> 00:14:44,900 was Turkey which was the hinge upon 318 00:14:42,050 --> 00:14:47,390 which the British could screw and the 319 00:14:44,900 --> 00:14:49,760 more that screw was turned in Turkey 320 00:14:47,390 --> 00:14:51,890 could and did provoke wars with Russia 321 00:14:49,760 --> 00:14:54,140 it was always not just in the Crimean 322 00:14:51,890 --> 00:14:56,750 War but throughout the 19th century the 323 00:14:54,140 --> 00:14:58,910 Western European imperialist powers that 324 00:14:56,750 --> 00:15:01,040 were provoking Russia and Turkey to 325 00:14:58,910 --> 00:15:03,440 fight wars now things are a bit 326 00:15:01,040 --> 00:15:05,570 different because you've got Turkey 327 00:15:03,440 --> 00:15:08,390 that's allied with Russia for the first 328 00:15:05,570 --> 00:15:10,190 time in history and it was a long way 329 00:15:08,390 --> 00:15:13,250 coming in many ways you've got to 330 00:15:10,190 --> 00:15:16,160 remember that in 1936 r2 torque agreed 331 00:15:13,250 --> 00:15:18,560 to the mantra convention which said 332 00:15:16,160 --> 00:15:20,510 the Turkish straits or Turkey because 333 00:15:18,560 --> 00:15:22,280 after the first world war the Western 334 00:15:20,510 --> 00:15:24,830 victorious Allies wanted to 335 00:15:22,280 --> 00:15:26,990 internationalize them Ataturk who always 336 00:15:24,830 --> 00:15:29,180 had a good relationship with his fellow 337 00:15:26,990 --> 00:15:31,280 revolutionary counterpart of a different 338 00:15:29,180 --> 00:15:34,040 kind Lenin he made good on that promise 339 00:15:31,280 --> 00:15:36,500 to say yes they are Turkey but any 340 00:15:34,040 --> 00:15:38,930 country who's got a navy in the Black 341 00:15:36,500 --> 00:15:41,840 Sea will have permanent access in both 342 00:15:38,930 --> 00:15:44,570 peacetime and wartime so Turkey is 343 00:15:41,840 --> 00:15:47,240 obviously incredibly powerful and under 344 00:15:44,570 --> 00:15:49,220 air the one he really got in Turkey a 345 00:15:47,240 --> 00:15:51,860 leader that's more powerful than any 346 00:15:49,220 --> 00:15:53,840 leader since Ataturk and certainly more 347 00:15:51,860 --> 00:15:55,910 powerful than the last few Sultan's in 348 00:15:53,840 --> 00:15:58,820 Britain you've got a country that's 349 00:15:55,910 --> 00:16:01,160 looking for its identity air Diwan was 350 00:15:58,820 --> 00:16:02,690 very much reshaping the identity of 351 00:16:01,160 --> 00:16:04,850 Turkey when he came in 352 00:16:02,690 --> 00:16:07,040 I call him a Turkish nationalist with 353 00:16:04,850 --> 00:16:08,810 ottoman and Islamic characteristics 354 00:16:07,040 --> 00:16:11,060 Britain now doesn't know if it's 355 00:16:08,810 --> 00:16:12,710 European or not doesn't know if it wants 356 00:16:11,060 --> 00:16:14,630 to be Donald Trump's friend or his 357 00:16:12,710 --> 00:16:17,000 opponent certainly when it comes to 358 00:16:14,630 --> 00:16:19,190 things like Iran and so it would be 359 00:16:17,000 --> 00:16:22,340 difficult for the simplistic mainstream 360 00:16:19,190 --> 00:16:25,010 media to really spin a pro-british 361 00:16:22,340 --> 00:16:28,700 positive story about the meeting so 362 00:16:25,010 --> 00:16:33,650 they've ignored it how Sultan like is AB 363 00:16:28,700 --> 00:16:35,870 Dogon obviously wins elections there was 364 00:16:33,650 --> 00:16:38,360 a time when he was unchallengeable 365 00:16:35,870 --> 00:16:41,570 Turkey's economy was growing faster than 366 00:16:38,360 --> 00:16:44,080 China there was an internal peace 367 00:16:41,570 --> 00:16:47,000 process with the Kurdish minority and 368 00:16:44,080 --> 00:16:50,300 Turkey had a policy of no quarrels with 369 00:16:47,000 --> 00:16:54,740 the neighbors then there was a period in 370 00:16:50,300 --> 00:16:57,350 which war resumed inside Turkey and 371 00:16:54,740 --> 00:17:00,410 Turkey had quarrels with all of its 372 00:16:57,350 --> 00:17:03,800 neighbors so arrogance quite a flexible 373 00:17:00,410 --> 00:17:07,640 friend isn't he how do you know that his 374 00:17:03,800 --> 00:17:09,890 current posture will last well Idi Amin 375 00:17:07,640 --> 00:17:12,350 has very much matured since he first 376 00:17:09,890 --> 00:17:14,240 came to power and when he first came to 377 00:17:12,350 --> 00:17:16,819 power frankly as someone who admires our 378 00:17:14,240 --> 00:17:19,010 to talk very much I was skeptical but 379 00:17:16,819 --> 00:17:21,740 edwin's record of being able to pivot 380 00:17:19,010 --> 00:17:23,839 interests between West and East in this 381 00:17:21,740 --> 00:17:26,420 win-win formula that we hear so much 382 00:17:23,839 --> 00:17:29,030 about to coin the phrase from Chinese 383 00:17:26,420 --> 00:17:30,950 President Xi Jinping it's really worked 384 00:17:29,030 --> 00:17:34,220 to the best interests of Turkey and 385 00:17:30,950 --> 00:17:36,860 insofar as he's popular he's strong and 386 00:17:34,220 --> 00:17:39,230 he has a low threshold for abuse from 387 00:17:36,860 --> 00:17:42,290 opponents let alone from terrorist 388 00:17:39,230 --> 00:17:44,780 groups like feta or the PKK or indeed - 389 00:17:42,290 --> 00:17:46,730 one can call him a sultan but only in 390 00:17:44,780 --> 00:17:49,340 the same way that any powerful leader 391 00:17:46,730 --> 00:17:50,900 could be associated with such an epithet 392 00:17:49,340 --> 00:17:54,110 one of the reasons you'll never hear 393 00:17:50,900 --> 00:17:56,390 Merkel being called a Kaiser or maybe 394 00:17:54,110 --> 00:17:59,000 called some sort of Empress is because 395 00:17:56,390 --> 00:18:00,440 they're not very popular and as a result 396 00:17:59,000 --> 00:18:03,350 not very powerful 397 00:18:00,440 --> 00:18:06,020 so air21 it's funny in some ways he's a 398 00:18:03,350 --> 00:18:07,640 victim of his own success I still think 399 00:18:06,020 --> 00:18:10,070 that in this forthcoming election he's 400 00:18:07,640 --> 00:18:12,830 going to win and win quite comfortably 401 00:18:10,070 --> 00:18:14,570 and this of course always currently less 402 00:18:12,830 --> 00:18:18,140 than 50% in the polls 403 00:18:14,570 --> 00:18:20,990 well which would force a second ballot 404 00:18:18,140 --> 00:18:22,730 indeed I tend not to believe opinion 405 00:18:20,990 --> 00:18:24,740 polls I think that it's difficult to 406 00:18:22,730 --> 00:18:27,230 predict these things I think even if it 407 00:18:24,740 --> 00:18:29,750 goes to a second round he'll be in a 408 00:18:27,230 --> 00:18:31,160 fairly confident position and the reason 409 00:18:29,750 --> 00:18:34,280 I say he's a victim of his own success 410 00:18:31,160 --> 00:18:36,680 is the following when he came to power 411 00:18:34,280 --> 00:18:39,440 the economy was in tatters you had the 412 00:18:36,680 --> 00:18:41,750 typical stereotypical if you will south 413 00:18:39,440 --> 00:18:44,540 Mediterranean west eurasian economic 414 00:18:41,750 --> 00:18:46,910 malaise he changed that by pumping an 415 00:18:44,540 --> 00:18:47,540 investment into major cities into rural 416 00:18:46,910 --> 00:18:49,340 areas 417 00:18:47,540 --> 00:18:51,650 he was much friendlier to small 418 00:18:49,340 --> 00:18:53,930 businesses and turkeys are generally a 419 00:18:51,650 --> 00:18:55,850 very small business merchant friendly 420 00:18:53,930 --> 00:18:58,520 culture he unleashed some of the 421 00:18:55,850 --> 00:19:01,640 bureaucratic restrains on them and he 422 00:18:58,520 --> 00:19:03,680 was popular now that the cities are very 423 00:19:01,640 --> 00:19:05,420 clean they're very vibrant a lot of them 424 00:19:03,680 --> 00:19:08,210 are saying well we're going to go back 425 00:19:05,420 --> 00:19:10,190 to our CHP Kemalist roots and we're 426 00:19:08,210 --> 00:19:12,350 going to abandon air the one for 427 00:19:10,190 --> 00:19:14,600 ideological reasons even though 428 00:19:12,350 --> 00:19:16,760 economically he's done well and just a 429 00:19:14,600 --> 00:19:19,010 little Asterix I put next to that we've 430 00:19:16,760 --> 00:19:21,650 been hearing a lot very recently about 431 00:19:19,010 --> 00:19:24,020 the lira which has been it's been in 432 00:19:21,650 --> 00:19:26,090 fairly bad shape but this is Finn 433 00:19:24,020 --> 00:19:28,310 fitting with the classic Keynesian model 434 00:19:26,090 --> 00:19:31,040 of when you've got employment going up 435 00:19:28,310 --> 00:19:32,690 productivity going up overall economic 436 00:19:31,040 --> 00:19:35,750 growth going up you're going to have 437 00:19:32,690 --> 00:19:37,520 inflation so weak currency is only 438 00:19:35,750 --> 00:19:40,280 really dangerous if you've got 439 00:19:37,520 --> 00:19:41,900 stagflation sown of the Philippines 440 00:19:40,280 --> 00:19:44,030 another example of a 441 00:19:41,900 --> 00:19:46,970 the quickest fastest growing economies 442 00:19:44,030 --> 00:19:49,370 in Southeast Asia but the peso very weak 443 00:19:46,970 --> 00:19:51,470 so long as employment when wages are up 444 00:19:49,370 --> 00:19:52,940 and at the economy is growing turkey 445 00:19:51,470 --> 00:19:54,980 like the Philippines will be able to 446 00:19:52,940 --> 00:19:58,550 withstand that now it's only a couple of 447 00:19:54,980 --> 00:20:01,670 years ago maybe less that the Turkish 448 00:19:58,550 --> 00:20:04,970 Air Force was shooting Russian airplanes 449 00:20:01,670 --> 00:20:07,670 out of the sky and real crisis existed 450 00:20:04,970 --> 00:20:10,040 between Russia and Turkey and Russia 451 00:20:07,670 --> 00:20:13,490 took economic measures against the 452 00:20:10,040 --> 00:20:16,429 doggins government now they seem to be 453 00:20:13,490 --> 00:20:18,850 on the same wavelength not quite the 454 00:20:16,429 --> 00:20:22,490 same wavelength but at least an overlap 455 00:20:18,850 --> 00:20:26,179 visibly Iran and visa vie the need to 456 00:20:22,490 --> 00:20:29,360 defeat the Islamist extremist threat in 457 00:20:26,179 --> 00:20:31,550 Syria but Abdul GaN is himself an 458 00:20:29,360 --> 00:20:34,370 Islamist he is a part of we could say 459 00:20:31,550 --> 00:20:37,640 he's the leader of the Muslim 460 00:20:34,370 --> 00:20:39,530 Brotherhood's international so two more 461 00:20:37,640 --> 00:20:43,100 extent do you think Russia can depend 462 00:20:39,530 --> 00:20:44,840 rely upon such an ally I think first of 463 00:20:43,100 --> 00:20:47,240 all we need to remember that while in 464 00:20:44,840 --> 00:20:49,250 the fog of war everyone thought that the 465 00:20:47,240 --> 00:20:51,710 order to shoot down the Russian jet 466 00:20:49,250 --> 00:20:53,929 which was undoubtedly a crime came from 467 00:20:51,710 --> 00:20:55,880 the top subsequent investigative 468 00:20:53,929 --> 00:20:57,830 reporting from very serious Turkish 469 00:20:55,880 --> 00:21:00,170 journalists and it's been reprinted in 470 00:20:57,830 --> 00:21:03,080 Russia indicate that it was a calculated 471 00:21:00,170 --> 00:21:05,300 conspiracy among officers and even the 472 00:21:03,080 --> 00:21:07,730 airmen involved who were loyal not to 473 00:21:05,300 --> 00:21:10,340 the Turkish state but to feta the fact 474 00:21:07,730 --> 00:21:12,260 other terrorist organization of a man 475 00:21:10,340 --> 00:21:14,690 who's living in the United States and 476 00:21:12,260 --> 00:21:16,730 whose organization is funded covertly 477 00:21:14,690 --> 00:21:19,100 five miles from the CIA 478 00:21:16,730 --> 00:21:24,080 how convenient he doesn't even need a 479 00:21:19,100 --> 00:21:25,820 Boris spike so so Gulen is I believe and 480 00:21:24,080 --> 00:21:27,580 many in Turkey and many in Russia bleep 481 00:21:25,820 --> 00:21:30,440 responsible for that outrageous 482 00:21:27,580 --> 00:21:33,200 provocation since then Turkey and Syria 483 00:21:30,440 --> 00:21:35,809 have not only reconciled but Russia and 484 00:21:33,200 --> 00:21:37,670 Turkey Putin and everyone recently cut 485 00:21:35,809 --> 00:21:40,010 the ribbon for Turkey's first-ever 486 00:21:37,670 --> 00:21:42,140 nuclear power station that Russia's 487 00:21:40,010 --> 00:21:44,150 going to build the Turk stream to 488 00:21:42,140 --> 00:21:46,370 pipeline is progressing at a very 489 00:21:44,150 --> 00:21:48,860 healthy rate and in Syria well this 490 00:21:46,370 --> 00:21:50,900 wasn't true two years ago I would say 491 00:21:48,860 --> 00:21:53,690 that Russia and Turkey now have more in 492 00:21:50,900 --> 00:21:55,309 common than Russia in Iran because Iran 493 00:21:53,690 --> 00:21:57,639 wants to fin 494 00:21:55,309 --> 00:21:59,779 the war follow it through to its logical 495 00:21:57,639 --> 00:22:02,269 conclusion and frankly it's ethical 496 00:21:59,779 --> 00:22:04,429 conclusion in terms of trying to push 497 00:22:02,269 --> 00:22:06,889 for the liberation of the occupied Golan 498 00:22:04,429 --> 00:22:09,649 Heights and to eradicate all of these 499 00:22:06,889 --> 00:22:12,409 terrorist groups militarily Russia wants 500 00:22:09,649 --> 00:22:14,480 to wind things down and kickstart the 501 00:22:12,409 --> 00:22:16,549 political process allowing it to 502 00:22:14,480 --> 00:22:19,370 generally supplant the military process 503 00:22:16,549 --> 00:22:21,710 turkey tends to take that same view as 504 00:22:19,370 --> 00:22:23,720 well and has been much more vocal this 505 00:22:21,710 --> 00:22:26,299 part of the very important triumvirate 506 00:22:23,720 --> 00:22:27,740 of the Astana partners Turkey Russia and 507 00:22:26,299 --> 00:22:30,049 Iran which have been working to bring 508 00:22:27,740 --> 00:22:31,610 peace to Syria so Turkey and Russia of 509 00:22:30,049 --> 00:22:34,490 course they have healthy disagreements 510 00:22:31,610 --> 00:22:36,440 as any healthy partnership does where 511 00:22:34,490 --> 00:22:38,720 both sides respect each other but they 512 00:22:36,440 --> 00:22:40,490 have more in common now than almost any 513 00:22:38,720 --> 00:22:42,529 other partnership in the wider region 514 00:22:40,490 --> 00:22:44,240 which can only be a good thing because 515 00:22:42,529 --> 00:22:46,789 it means unlike what Britain in France 516 00:22:44,240 --> 00:22:49,249 used to do in provoking wars between 517 00:22:46,789 --> 00:22:50,929 Russia and Turkey and between Russia and 518 00:22:49,249 --> 00:22:53,539 Iran now all three 519 00:22:50,929 --> 00:22:56,570 despite disagreements are together the 520 00:22:53,539 --> 00:22:59,299 tectonic plates are definitely shifting 521 00:22:56,570 --> 00:23:01,309 how stable there will be after the shift 522 00:22:59,299 --> 00:23:04,970 remains to be seen 523 00:23:01,309 --> 00:23:07,730 Britain supported Turkish membership of 524 00:23:04,970 --> 00:23:11,629 the EU that we are now leaving and seems 525 00:23:07,730 --> 00:23:14,629 still to do so what are the prospects of 526 00:23:11,629 --> 00:23:17,149 Turkey joining the European Union very 527 00:23:14,629 --> 00:23:20,480 little I would say next to none it's 528 00:23:17,149 --> 00:23:22,610 unpractical and the actual members of 529 00:23:20,480 --> 00:23:24,649 the EU have never really wanted it and 530 00:23:22,610 --> 00:23:27,080 now they want less this though again is 531 00:23:24,649 --> 00:23:28,879 part of Britain's identity crisis the 532 00:23:27,080 --> 00:23:30,860 other day there was a summit hosted by 533 00:23:28,879 --> 00:23:33,470 Britain saying why the West Balkan 534 00:23:30,860 --> 00:23:35,720 nations Serbia Albania Montenegro should 535 00:23:33,470 --> 00:23:37,159 join the EU which is a bit like an 536 00:23:35,720 --> 00:23:39,139 Austin is saying that you should join 537 00:23:37,159 --> 00:23:41,389 the fire brigade it doesn't it doesn't 538 00:23:39,139 --> 00:23:43,999 really make sense certainly the optics 539 00:23:41,389 --> 00:23:46,610 as they say are a bit funny but I think 540 00:23:43,999 --> 00:23:49,309 turkey's position is solidified now it's 541 00:23:46,610 --> 00:23:51,740 a country they can look both ways from a 542 00:23:49,309 --> 00:23:53,929 position of strength and the prime 543 00:23:51,740 --> 00:23:55,639 example i'd give of this the united 544 00:23:53,929 --> 00:23:58,490 states tried to tell turkey we will 545 00:23:55,639 --> 00:24:00,919 sanction you if you buy the s400 missile 546 00:23:58,490 --> 00:24:03,649 defense systems from russia and we'll 547 00:24:00,919 --> 00:24:06,950 with withhold or delivery of the f-35 548 00:24:03,649 --> 00:24:08,610 jet two Jet's turkey said no you cannot 549 00:24:06,950 --> 00:24:10,260 treat us in this way and guess 550 00:24:08,610 --> 00:24:11,670 but the gating the American jets and 551 00:24:10,260 --> 00:24:12,809 they're getting the Russian missile 552 00:24:11,670 --> 00:24:15,750 defense systems 553 00:24:12,809 --> 00:24:18,240 that's win-win when when indeed Adam 554 00:24:15,750 --> 00:24:22,980 Gary thanks for joining onboard the 555 00:24:18,240 --> 00:24:24,809 school and now it's your time to tell us 556 00:24:22,980 --> 00:24:26,760 what you think through the portals of 557 00:24:24,809 --> 00:24:28,679 social media what's rattling gayatri 558 00:24:26,760 --> 00:24:30,929 right so we asked our audience how 559 00:24:28,679 --> 00:24:33,570 excited they are about the royal wedding 560 00:24:30,929 --> 00:24:35,309 today and frankbooth says 561 00:24:33,570 --> 00:24:37,350 robbing the wealth they have in our 562 00:24:35,309 --> 00:24:40,559 faces and being subsidized by US 563 00:24:37,350 --> 00:24:43,200 presence in a time of austerity hashtag 564 00:24:40,559 --> 00:24:46,440 stinks hashtag let them eat cake 565 00:24:43,200 --> 00:24:48,120 and mark andrew i will be wondering why 566 00:24:46,440 --> 00:24:51,299 is the country having spent three 567 00:24:48,120 --> 00:24:53,040 hundred thousand on address there are 568 00:24:51,299 --> 00:24:57,090 people sleeping on the streets and 569 00:24:53,040 --> 00:25:00,660 finally guac says what i got them a $20 570 00:24:57,090 --> 00:25:03,360 gift card from walmart now go towards 571 00:25:00,660 --> 00:25:05,070 the buying of the wedding dress I don't 572 00:25:03,360 --> 00:25:07,530 think these arguments really add up 573 00:25:05,070 --> 00:25:10,320 because actually the British economy 574 00:25:07,530 --> 00:25:13,410 will be a net beneficiary from this 575 00:25:10,320 --> 00:25:17,370 wedding in a very big way from tourism 576 00:25:13,410 --> 00:25:21,330 from merchandise and all of that that's 577 00:25:17,370 --> 00:25:24,630 big big business revolutionary looking 578 00:25:21,330 --> 00:25:27,090 at Megan Marco yeah black a black woman 579 00:25:24,630 --> 00:25:29,970 in a white wedding dress costing three 580 00:25:27,090 --> 00:25:33,000 hundred thousand for Ghana a Catholic 581 00:25:29,970 --> 00:25:35,640 there you go although she had to cook 582 00:25:33,000 --> 00:25:37,290 convert correct like what I'm looking 583 00:25:35,640 --> 00:25:38,370 for yeah well that's all the time you 584 00:25:37,290 --> 00:25:40,679 got her a treat today 585 00:25:38,370 --> 00:25:42,570 alas means that's the end of the show 586 00:25:40,679 --> 00:25:45,000 but you can stay in touch with us on our 587 00:25:42,570 --> 00:25:47,640 social media on Twitter and Instagram 588 00:25:45,000 --> 00:25:49,650 Artie underscore Sputnik and on Facebook 589 00:25:47,640 --> 00:25:51,660 Sputnik on Russia today it's goodbye 590 00:25:49,650 --> 00:25:55,070 from me Gayatri and for me George 591 00:25:51,660 --> 00:25:55,070 Galloway it's been marvelous 592 00:25:59,280 --> 00:26:02,359 [Music] 593 00:26:05,750 --> 00:26:08,809 [Music]