TURKISH PRESIDENT NOMINATED FOR CHATHAM HOUSE PRIZE 2010 FOR ARMENIAN PRESIDENT’S SERVICES

ArmInfo
2010-03-01 10:57:00

ArmInfo. Turkish President Abdullah Gul has been nominated for Chatham
House Prize 2010.

Chathan House official website reports that Abdullah Gul has been a
significant figure for reconciliation and moderation within Turkey
and internationally, and a driving force behind many of the positive
steps that Turkey has taken in recent years.

Mr Gul has worked to deepen Turkey’s traditional ties with the Middle
East, mediate between the fractious groups in Iraq and bring together
the Afghan and Pakistani leaderships to try to resolve disputes during
2009. He has also made significant efforts to reunify the divided
island of Cyprus and has played a leading role in accelerating the
unprecedented reconciliation process between Turkey and Armenia,
including through his ‘football diplomacy’.

President Gul is an unwavering proponent of anchoring Turkey in the
European Union. Under his leadership, Turkey has consolidated civilian
democratic rule and pursued extensive political and legal reforms
to bring the country closer to European standards of democracy and
human rights, the website says.