Today’s Zaman
03 October 2009, Saturday
Gül points to stronger democracy for resolution of problems
President Gül commented on recent developments in Turkey and
the world during his flight to Azerbaijan on Friday. Today’s Zaman
columnist Abdülhamit Bilici was among the reporters who
accompanied the president.
President Gül commented on recent developments in Turkey and
the world during his flight to Azerbaijan on Friday. Today’s Zaman
columnist Abdülhamit Bilici was among the reporters who
accompanied the president.
President Abdullah Gül has said the improvement of Turkey’s
democratic standards will solve all of the country’s current problems.
`A higher level of democracy is the solution to all problems. Without
the need to define them as problems of religion or ethnicity, our
problems will be solved if we raise our democratic standards. We can
settle any problems of Kurdish, Alevi and religious citizens through
democracy without being obliged to name those problems,’ the president
told reporters on Friday during his flight to Azerbaijan to attend the
ninth meeting of the Turkic-speaking Countries Cooperation Council.
Gül referred to democracy and the rule of law as the two most
important values of the contemporary world.
The president also clarified remarks made during a speech he delivered
on Thursday in Parliament in which he called for more respect for
differences in society. `When I say respect for differences, I am not
just pointing to ethnic and sectarian ones. I am also pointing to
political ones,’ he remarked.
Asked about the attendance of military officers during his
parliamentary address, Gül expressed full confidence in the
Turkish military and noted that he states his views freely when he
meets with members of the military.
The president was also asked a question about the recent elections in
Germany. Most observers have said the new German government will lend
less support to Turkey’s bid to join the European Union. `We all know
the EU standards and in which areas we need
make these improvements, then Turkey’s outlook will change, which will
result in a change in the views of France and Germany toward our
country,’ he noted.
The president also expressed hope that his Armenian counterpart will
visit Turkey this month for a World Cup soccer qualifier between
Turkey and Armenia.
`We went to Yerevan without making any conditions. What is important
here is sports and gentlemanliness. It is clear that the status quo in
the Caucasus is of no benefit to anyone,’ Gül stated.
03 October 2009, Saturday
ABDÃ`LHAMIT BILICI NAKHCEVAN