For him the prize was both "a celebration of the Turkish language, of Turkish culture, which I'm a part of," as well as "recognition of my 32 years of humble devotion to the great art of the novel," he told the British daily The Guardian.
Pentru el, premiul este atât "o celebrare a limbii turceşti, a culturii turceşti, din care fac parte", cât şi "recunoaşterea celor 32 de ani de dedicare umilă faţă de marea artă a romanului", a declarat el cotidianului britanic The Guardian.