Egypt's Tahrir youths ask Gül for Turkish university

05 June 2011, Sunday
SEDAT DENLI, İSTANBUL

Representatives of youth groups who took part in the Jan. 25 revolt in Egypt have asked President Abdullah Gül for the establishment of a Turkish university in their country, saying that such a university would serve as a symbol of the rich Turkish culture.

President Gül met with the group from the “January 25 Tahrir Youth Leaders” on Saturday at the presidential Tarabya Kiosk residence, where he told them that there is no place for authoritarianism in the Islamic world. He also urged rulers of Arab countries to make reforms for more freedom.

“Sadly, the battle [for democracy] continues in some countries today. I would like to remind rulers in Muslim Arab countries of the necessity of being realistic, of perceiving the world better and of seeing that there is already no place for authoritarian regimes in the Islamic world,” Gül told the group.

Abdallah Helmy, a founding member of the Revolutionary Youth Union, also delivered a speech on behalf of the visiting group and underlined the presence of strong ties between his country and Egypt. Joining forces and cooperating, these two countries can change many things in the region, Helmy said, while urging Gül to further bolster relations between the people of Egypt and Turkey.

“We request from you an initiative for the establishment of a Turkish university in Egypt. Let this university constitute the symbol of the rich Turkish culture in this way.” Helmy said. “At the same time, I'm calling for the opening of either a department of al-Azhar University [on a campus to be opened] in Turkey,” he said, referring to the centuries-old prestigious university based in Cairo.

The time is ripe for building a strategic partnership between Egypt and Turkey, Helmy argued, stating that it is now time to take steps for the future of the people of the two countries.

In his speech, Gül, meanwhile, stressed that governments which do not allow for full freedom in their countries must lead these kinds of revolutions and reforms. He said such governments will eventually be forced to adopt reforms in the face of strong public resistance against them. Citing bloodshed and casualties in these countries, he said these incidents “indeed deeply sadden us.”

The president said that, in order to end this violence as soon as possible, rulers must first respect their own people and take steps in line with the demands of the people, so their countries come out of this process stronger.

“Everyone is aware that I am speaking about countries such as Syria and Libya,” Gül said, noting that Turkey is closely monitoring developments in Egypt. He stated that Turkish-Egyptian relations will continue to be strong and the two countries will always benefit from each other's experience.

“There will be a multi-party system in Egypt from now on and whoever the nation wants will rule the country,” Gül said. He added that all nations had overcome their fears and were working hard to be ruled by robust and respected administrations.

Source: Today's Zaman.
Link: http://www.todayszaman.com/news-246310-egypts-tahrir-youths-ask-gul-for-turkish-university.html.

Turkish president to visit Poland

04 June 2011, Saturday

Turkish President Abdullah Gül is set to pay a formal visit to Poland next week at the invitation of his Polish counterpart Bronislaw Komorowski, Gül's press office said on Friday.

Gül is scheduled to leave on Sunday for his three-day trip in Warsaw where he will meet Komorowski, Polish Parliament's Chairman Grzegorz Schetyna, Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Polish Senate Speaker Bogdan Borusewicz.

Gül’s talks in Poland will also cover bilateral relations and cooperation as well as Turkey's European Union membership bid recent regional and international developments.

The turkish president is also expected to deliver a speech on "Turkish Vision on Europe's Future" at the European College in Natolin.

Poland is set to take over the rotating presidency of the European Union on July 1.

Source: Today's Zaman.
Link: http://www.todayszaman.com/news-246162-turkish-president-to-visit-poland.html.

President Gül opens international defense fair in İstanbul

10 May 2011, Tuesday

President Abdullah Gül officially opened the 10th International Defense Industry Fair (IDEF'11) at İstanbul's Tüyap Convention Center in Büyükçekmece on Tuesday.

During his remarks Gül emphasized the significance of hosting this fair in a city that connects two continents and has become an important center in its geographic region. “Especially in recent years, Turkey has placed greater importance on its national defense industry. Designing our own defense products and producing them using only domestic resources are big steps towards the development of this sector in Turkey,” Gül noted.

The fair, which will run May 10-13, will host many chiefs of general staff, defense ministers and military authorities from around the world. High-level military staff will have the opportunity to exchange views during their visit to IDEF'11, while foreign arms manufacturers and other defense contractors will also have the opportunity to establish important business contacts.

A total of 575 domestic and foreign companies from 44 countries -- including Turkish Aerospace Industries Inc. (TAI), Aselsan, Roketsan, FNSS Defense Systems, Otokar and more -- have gathered for the defense fair. Turkey's Tusaş Engine Industries (TIE) will present its unmanned aerial vehicle, while Aselsan will participate with its 60-ton Leopard 2A4 tank. An active remote controlled defense and surveillance system called Nöbetçi, which is aimed at replacing sentries at military bunkers and outposts, will also be exhibited.

The Turkish president also shared his views on rising tensions in the Middle East and North Africa, saying that maintaining peace, stability and security in the world should be a priority for all countries. “In order to achieve this [peace, stability and security] it is certain that appropriate policies, politics and other tools are necessary. We need to understand that the defense industry is indispensable for preventing wars around the world, not to get involved in wars,” Gül said. “A country which does not have sufficient preparations to dissuade threats will be an open target.”

After the fair opening, Gül, Defense Minister Vecdi Gönül and Chief of General Staff Gen. Işık Koşaner also opened the booth for Turkey's first national tank, the Altay, which is being presented to the public for the first time.

Source: Today's Zaman.
Link: http://www.todayszaman.com/news-243462-president-gul-opens-international-defense-fair-in-istanbul.html.

President Gül: Turkish people 'may say no' to EU membership

Sunday, May 1, 2011
ANKARA - Anatolia News Agency

The Turkish people might say “no” to European Union membership, just as the Norwegian public did, President Abdullah Gül told Austrian media ahead of his scheduled visit Monday to the European country.

The president discussed Turkey’s EU membership bid, Turkish foreign policy, domestic political developments and the vision for the country in an interview with Kurier, Die Presse and Der Standard, Austria’s three leading newspapers.

Der Standard published Gül’s interview in its April 29 edition with the headline, “Maybe Turkish people would say ‘no’ to EU membership.”

Told by the reporters that there is much suspicion in Austria about Turkey’s potential membership in the European bloc, Gül said: “Austrian citizens may have a different point of view against Turkey. What we should do is to introduce Turkey better in Austria. We should also explain to them that Turkey will not be a burden on Austria when it becomes an EU member. On the contrary, this will be advantageous for both parties.”

Asked his opinion about an ongoing discussion on giving lessons in Turkish in Austria schools, the president said he believes Turkish nationals living in Austria have to have two main languages and be able to speak fluently.

Noting that a common decision was made in 2005 for Turkey to start accession talks, Gül said the EU “should be true to this.”

“Referendums will take place when Turkey comes to the point of becoming a member. We respect referendums. The path leading to the EU is a long process,” he said.

The millions of Muslims in Europe cannot and should not be disregarded, Gül added, saying: “Such a thing will mean religious discrimination. It is not important whether a person is Muslim, Christian or Jewish. It is important that this person has to support fundamental principles of democracy and human rights.”

In his interview, Gül said both Turkey and Austria are the inheritors of important states and empires. “I believe we will be able to deepen economic and political relations during [my] visit,” he said. “Around 200,000 Turkish nationals are living in Austria. 100,000 of them are Austrian nationals. They are a part of Austrian society and very important for Turkish-Austrian relations.”

Source: Hürriyet.
Link: http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=gul-says-turkish-people-may-say-no-to-eu-membership-2011-05-01.

Turkish President Gül elects chief prosecutor with most votes

Sunday, May 1, 2011

President Abdullah Gül on Saturday selected Hasan Erbil, the candidate who received the highest number of votes, as the new chief prosecutor of the Supreme Court of Appeals.

Elections for the new chief prosecutor were held Thursday to replace Abdurrahman Yalçınkaya, who launched a closure case against the ruling party in 2008. The names of four candidates who ranked lower than Erbil in the elections were also sent to Gül for his consideration.

It was speculated before the election that Hakkı Manav, who has long served in the Justice Ministry in different senior positions and was perceived to be the government-backed candidate, was likely to assume the position.

Gül, who had the right to elect the new chief prosecutor from any of the five candidate members irrespective of the number of votes they received, chose Erbil instead.

The new chief prosecutor will serve for a period of four years.

Source: Hürriyet.
Link: http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=gul-elects-chief-prosecutor-with-most-votes-2011-05-01.

Turkish president in Kurd region: one-language policy stands

Thu, 30 Dec 2010

Istanbul - Turkish President Abdullah Gul on Thursday reiterated that Turkish is the country's only official language during a trip to the country's primarily Kurdish south-eastern region.

The trip was aimed at easing recent tensions over Kurdish issues.

"The official language of the Turkish Republic is Turkish, and it will continue this way. Moreover, the language of the state and of public institutions is Turkish; it is our common language," Gul said, according to the semi-official Anatolia Agency.

Gul's two-day trip to Diyarbakir, Turkey's largest Kurdish- majority city, comes in the wake of a period of heated debate in Turkey about Kurdish rights following a recent proposal by Kurdish groups for the establishment of a politically autonomous Kurdish region in south-eastern Turkey.

Earlier this month, the pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) also called for education of Kurdish citizens in their mother tongue and for a policy of "bilingualism" in municipalities that are largely Kurdish.

Kurds are estimated to make up around 20 per cent of Turkey's population, but have long faced discrimination against and restrictions on their linguistic and cultural self-expression.

The recent debates prompted Turkey's National Security Council (MGK) on Wednesday to issue a strong statement against proposals for more widespread use of the Kurdish language. Stating that Turkish is the country's official language, the MGK warned that: "Initiatives aiming to change this fact are unacceptable."

Though Gul characterized his visit to Diyarbakir - his second since he became president in 2007 - as a regular visit, it was nonetheless timed as a goodwill trip to soothe political tensions.

"I am here to see Diyarbakir's problems first-hand," the president announced at a meeting with Diyarbakir mayor Osman Baydemir.

Baydemir, who belongs to the pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party (BDP), presented Gul with a Turkish-Kurdish dictionary and said attempts to deal with Kurdish issues solely as a security problem have been unsuccessful.

Calling the Kurdish issue "Turkey's biggest problem," Baydemir said, "The lack of tolerance toward demands and suggestions by Kurdish politicians regarding the mother tongue and democratic autonomy is very worrisome."

The president accepted the dictionary and acknowledged that the different languages spoken by Turkish citizens add to the country's diversity.

"Our constitution gives us the duty of protecting cultural heritage. These [languages] are partly a cultural heritage, partly a living heritage," he said.

Gul, who received a warm welcome in Diyarbakir without any political protest, was also scheduled to meet with other officials, tour the city's industrial zone and visit Dicle University.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/news/360191,region-one-language-policy-stands.html.

ECO summit kicks off, Turkey's Gul elected term president

Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad said Thursday that Turkish President Abdullah Gul was elected the term president of the Economic Cooperation Organization.

Thursday, 23 December 2010

Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad said Thursday that Turkish President Abdullah Gul was elected the term president of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO).

The 11th summit of heads of state and government of the ECO began in Istanbul's Ciragan Palace on Thursday.

Turkey's President Abdullah Gul is hosting the summit attended by ten member and guest countries including Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Iraq, Qatar, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.

Some of the leaders participating in the summit are Afghan President Hamid Karzai, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad, Kyrgyz President Roza Otunbaeva, Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and Tajik President Emomoli Rahman.

President Jalal Talabani of Iraq is attending the summit as a leader from one of the guest countries.

Delivering the opening remarks at the 11th summit of the heads of state and government of the ECO in Istanbul, Ahmadinejad thanked Gul for the hospitality displayed.

Less than two years have passed since the Tehran Summit. Since then, the ministers of respective countries held many meetings and various projects were put into service, Ahmadinejad said.

The ECO has great potential for comprehensive cooperation. I am confident that, under Mr. Gul's leadership, all members of the ECO will make sincere cooperation to reach long term goals, Ahmadinejad also said.

Turkey will take over ECO rotating presidency from Iran during the summit. Participants are expected to adopt an Istanbul declaration at the end of the meeting.

ECO is an intergovernmental regional organization established in 1985 by Iran, Pakistan and Turkey for the purpose of promoting economic, technical and cultural cooperation among the Member States.

In 1992, the Organization was expanded to include seven new members, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Republic of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Republic of Uzbekistan.

ECO aims to boost cultural, commercial and economic cooperation among its members, and it also targets at establishing a free trade zone by 2015.

Source: World Bulletin.
Link: http://www.worldbulletin.net/news_detail.php?id=67724.

Turkish President meets Talabani in Istanbul

Talabani will attend the 11th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Cooperation Organization in Istanbul on December 23.

Wednesday, 22 December 2010

Turkish President Abdullah Gul met with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani in Istanbul on Wednesday.

Talabani will attend the 11th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Cooperation Organization in Istanbul on December 23.

During his stay in Turkey, Talabani will also meet Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

His meetings will focus on economic and political relations between Turkey and Iraq.

Gul's meeting with Talabani lasted around one hour.

Source: World Bulletin.
Link: http://www.worldbulletin.net/news_detail.php?id=67695.

Turkey's Gul rules out Israel's use of Nato missile shield

Turkey's President Abdullah Gul said that any cooperation between Israel and NATO was "out of question".

Friday, 03 December 2010

Turkey's President Abdullah Gul said that any cooperation between Israel and NATO was "out of question".

In an interview with Euronews, Gul said that the missile defense system by NATO was related to only NATO members, stating that Israel was not a member of NATO.

"Any cooperation between Israel and NATO is out of question. Israel cannot use NATO's means," he said.

Asked whether or not Turkey still considered Israel a friend and allied country after its raid on Mavi Marmara, Gul said, "Israel's raid changed many things. Israeli army attacked on an aid flotilla in international waters and killed many people. It is impossible to forget it. A country which is subject to international law and a member of the UN should have fulfilled requirements of the international law. Israel did not compensate it." President Gul said that Israel lost Turkey's friendship.

Nine people, including eight Turks and one U.S. citizen of Turkish descent, were killed when Israeli forces raided a Gaza-bound aid flotilla in international waters on May 31. Around 30 people were wounded in the attack. The incident cast a serious blow to Turkey-Israeli relations. Turkey demanded an official apology from Israel, urging it to pay damages for the victims and lift the blockade over Gaza.

Gul expressed his reaction to axis shift discussions regarding Turkey and said, "all these things are wrong. Turkey's course is clear. Turkey is working to reach the most developed democratic standards and economic standards. The country amends its constitution and laws. Turkey pursues an all-around policy."

In regard to Turkey's approach toward Iranian nuclear issue, Gul said that Turkey was sensitive to an issue concerning its neighbor.

Gul said that Turkey had a sound determination regarding its EU accession process.

Source: World Bulletin.
Link: http://www.worldbulletin.net/news_detail.php?id=66970.

Turkish president urges PKK to disarm

Wed Nov 3, 2010

Turkish President Abdullah Gul has urged the terrorist Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) to discontinue militant attacks and to transform itself into a civilian organization.

"I hope PKK's decision to lay down arms and not to stage any terrorist attacks would be permanent," Gul told reporters in the southern province of Osmaniye on Tuesday.

The Turkish president further added that no one could reach anywhere with terrorism.

"Turkey could in no way tolerate terrorism and would not let any one to carry arms illegally on its territories," he stated.

"This is the homeland of every one who is the citizen of the Republic of Turkey," he noted.

The Turkish president made the remarks after Sunday's attack that wounded 32 people in Istanbul.

The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by much of the international community, including Turkey, Iran, the United States, and the European Union member states.

Over 40,000 people have lost their lives since the PKK launched its armed campaign against Ankara in 1984.

The PKK terrorists launch their attacks mainly from Iraq's Qandil mountains in the areas under the control of Kurdistan Regional Government President Massoud Barzani. Israeli regime and companies are reported to operate in the Qandil mountain range.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail/149451.html.

Gul in Yemen next January, Turkish envoy says

[31/October/2010]

SANA'A, Oct. 31 (Saba) - Turkish ambassador to Yemen Mohammed Donamaz announced a visit of Turkish President Abdullah Gul to Yemen on January 2011, the GPC-run almotamar.net has reported.

During a celebration organized by the Turkish embassy in Sana'a on the National Day, Donamaz said that Gul's visit to Yemen would enhance the relations between Yemen and Turkey.

The Yemeni-Turkish economic relations are growing incessantly. The commercial exchange between the two countries reached last year $83 million, the Turkish diplomat said, pointing to efforts to enlarge the commercial exchange volume up to $1 billion in the near future.

Minister of Trade and Industry Yahya al-Mutawakel hailed the Turkish roles supporting Yemen and its issues.

The last visit of the Turkish businessmen has reflected the deep-rooted relations between Yemen and Turkey.

Source: Saba Net.
Link: http://www.sabanews.net/en/news227763.htm.

Turkish president condemns bomb attack in Istanbul

November 01, 2010

Turkish President Abdullah Gul Sunday strongly condemned the suicide bomb attack in the Taksim Square in Istanbul, according to a presidential statement obtained by Xinhua.

Gul expressed his profound sorrow after 22 people, including 10 policemen, were injured when a suicide bomber detonated a bomb wrapped around his body in Istanbul's central Taksim Square.

"I strongly condemn this heinous attack. Fortunately, the attack did not cause any loss of live. All segments of our society, regardless of their political views, should display a solid stance and condemn terrorism after such a cruel and inhuman act of terror, " said Gul.

"It is essential to develop international fight against terror. Such acts of terror do not serve efforts to resolve issues in a period in which democracy and freedom are improving, everybody has mobilized to find solutions to problems and our people display their will to live in peace and tranquility," the president added.

Meanwhile, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, during a visit to the southeastern province of Mardin, reiterated Sunday that Turkish government "will never allow those who aim at disturbing Turkey's stability and security," he told the reporters.

"Such attacks will not prevent us from fulfilling our goals of unity and development. Our unity and solidarity will be the best response." Erdogan addressed.

Source: Xinhua

Source: People's Daily.
Link: http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90777/90854/7183372.html.

Abdullah Gul to withstand Erdogan's statement of 100 thousand Armenians

Turkey’s Abdullah Gul answered to reporters’ questions on his flight back to Turkey from Congo and Cameroon travels. Turkish President referred to the Armenian issue as well.

According to Turkish Zaman Abdullah Gul was asked whether he’s determined to have another telconversation with U.S. Barack Obama.

Reminding that before the U.S. House of Representatives adopted the Armenian Genocide Resolution he had had a conversation with Obama.

“We’ve talked once. I’m not going to do it again. We’ve talked thoroughly enough, we’ve explained things. They’re perfectly aware of it. We’ve told them what we were expected to.”

The reporters asked President Gul to comment on PM Erdogan’s statement on expelling Armenians from Turkey, reminding that before leaving for Africa, Gul had declared it was time for voiceless diplomacy.

“Mister Prime Minister seems wanted to underscore Turkey’s positive advancement. Besides, I’m not sure that figure is 100 thousand. Those people work in Turkey. They support their families by their earnings. I’m sure it was aimed to show that they aren’t adversely treated in Turkey. Humane issues should be differentiated from political issues.”

Turkey’s president stated that Erdogan’s statement has been differently treated and added: “There is no place to xenophobia and racism in Turkish people. We say USA, Diaspora and Southern Caucasus are quite different issues. We should keep close to the idea of stability and cooperation platform in Caucasus. Status quo isn’t beneficial for either side. That’s why we declared that time for voiceless diplomacy arrived. The achievements of MG are visible.”

Abdullah Gul underscored and hailed Russia’s Medvedev’s efforts to reach the resolution of Karabakh conflict.

Source: Panorama.
Link: http://www.panorama.am/en/politics/2010/03/19/gyul-erdoghan/.

Turkish president wins international relations prize

Prestigious Chatham House recognizes role of Gul in 'many of the positive steps' of Turkey.

LONDON - Turkish President Abdullah Gul has won this year's prestigious Chatham House prize for improving international relations, the British foreign policy think-tank announced Friday.

Gul was named for his work in deepening Turkey's traditional ties with the Middle East, his efforts to mediate between fractious groups in Iraq and for bringing together the Afghan and Pakistan leaderships during 2009.

The think-tank also praised his efforts to reunify the divided island of Cyprus, his role in beginning the process of reconciliation between Turkey and Armenia and his work in bringing Turkey closer to the European Union.

"President Gul is recognized for being 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," it said.

Chatham House, also known as the Royal Institute of International Affairs, awards the annual prize to the statesperson considered to have made the most significant contribution to improving international relations that year.

Previous recipients are Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who won it last year, and John Kufuor, then president of Ghana, who won in 2008.

Gul will be invited to London later this year to collect the award.

Source: Middle East Online.
Link: http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=37930.

Abdullah Gul: "Decision of the Swedish parliament is ineffective"

Baku – APA. “We know how this decision was made. It is ineffective from the point of our view”, said Turkish president Abdullah Gul making comments on the decision of Swedish parliament to recognize “Armenian genocide”.

According to APA, Gul said those, who made that decision, were not historians. “I would like to reiterate what I said about the US Congress. If you asked them about the event, they couldn’t be answer even with three words. They are people, whose actions are based on mostly wasted claims. This is very regrettable decision as disrespect to the history. It has no effects. Don’t inflate that. This is no such subject that could be inflated. We shouldn’t swell the issues which are ineffective for us”.

Source: APA.
Link: http://en.apa.az/news.php?id=117793.

Turkish president Abdullah Gul becomes grandfather

09 Mar 2010 12:20

Baku - APA. President Abdullah Gul’s daughter Kubra Gul Sarımermer, last night gave birth to a daughter, APA reports. Kubra Gul Sarımermer gave birth to a daughter at one of the private hospitals in Istanbul at about 23.30 on March 8. Abdullah Gul and his spouse didn’t leave the hospital even just for a moment.

Doctors, said the baby’s health status is good. President Abdullah Gul embraced his first grandchild and loved the lap.

Source: APA.
Link: http://en.apa.az/news.php?id=117537.

Gul slams Sweden over Armenian 'genocide' publicity

Turkish President Abdullah Gul has criticized Stockholm over a Swedish parliament resolution that branded the World War I killing of Armenians during the Ottoman Empire as 'genocide.'

"The resolution on Armenian allegations which was approved by the Swedish Parliament does not have any credibility. Those who made this decision and voted in favor of the resolution were not historians," Gul said on Thursday.

Sweden's parliament narrowly approved a resolution Thursday, claiming that the 1915 killing of Armenians in Turkey amounted to genocide. The resolution was passed by a very narrow margin, with 131 parliamentarians voting in favor and 130 against, with 88 abstaining in the 349-seat assembly.

Despite Armenian claims that the killing of over a million Armenians between 1915 and 1923 were the result of an orchestrated campaign by Ottoman Turks, Turkish officials strongly reject the idea and the genocide label. They insist far fewer Armenians died and that they were killed in a civil war in which Turks also died.

Ankara points to historical evidence, ignored by Armenian lobbyists and their Western supporters, that puts the figure of Armenian victims at 300,000 and also makes clear that nearly as many Ottoman Turks were killed in the civil unrest that led to the downfall of the Ottoman Empire.

US observers have also pointed to the close association of the influential Armenian lobby in the US with the powerful Israeli lobby in pushing through the symbolic resolution as a general publicity campaign against the Muslim state of Turkey, which has become one of the leading critics of violent Israeli policies against the Palestinians.

Ankara and Yerevan signed an agreement last October to normalize relations, but their parliaments have yet to ratify them to end a century of hostility.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=120644§ionid=351020204.

Turkey will overcome 'coup probe crisis': president

ANKARA (AFP) - – Turkish President Abdullah Gul said on Saturday he was sure Turkey would overcome a crisis triggered by a massive probe into an alleged 2003 military plot to overthrow a conservative Islamic government.

The investigation saw an Istanbul court charge late Friday two retired generals, including alleged plot leader Cetin Dogan, remanding them both in custody pending trial.

The number of suspects incarcerated by the court has reached 33 out of the 50 or so members of the military arrested up by police in a mass swoop on Monday.

Around 15 have been released, including former marine and air force commanders.

Another 18 soldiers, mostly junior offices, were rounded up Friday in a second wave of arrests and were due to appear before prosecutors in Istanbul over the weekend.

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned the army Friday that no-one was above the law and "those who make plans behind closed door to crush the people's will must see that from now on they will face justice."

Gul echoed that opinion in an interview published by the daily Hurriyet on Saturday. "If there are people who commit errors in our institutions (the army), they must be purged."

He added though that he was sure that Turkey would "totally get over" the crisis, and emphasized that the Turkish democracy's main aim was to meet European standards.

"Turkey must not shoot itself in the foot," at a time when it is trying to emerge from a recession, he said.

The standoff between the government and the army led the Istanbul stock exchange to plunge nearly seven percent last week and the Turkish lira to fall against the dollar.

The unprecedented probe has rattled Turkey, raising fears of a showdown between the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) -- the offshoot of a banned Islamist movement -- and the army, the self-declared guardian of the country's secular system.

The Turkish army has traditionally wielded significant influence on politics, but has seen its clout wane under the AKP.

The alleged coup plan -- codenamed "Operation Sledgehammer" -- is said to have been drafted and discussed within the First Army in 2003, shortly after the AKP came to power amid fears that it would undermine the secular system.

The plot allegedly involved plans to bomb mosques and provoke tensions with Greece to force the downing of a Turkish jet, sparking political chaos and justifying a military takeover against the government.

Gul: Turkey-Bangladesh trade could hit 1 billion dollars a year

Dhaka - Turkish President Abdullah Gul, in Bangladesh on a two-day visit, said Friday that trade between the two countries could rise from its current level to over 1 billion dollars per year. "It is very pleasing to see that trade ... has grown to almost $600 million in a short period of time," Gul told reporters after a meeting with his Bangladeshi counterpart.

Gul said that Dhaka and Ankara should support each other and extend cooperation in military and cultural spheres.

Bangladesh enjoys a trade surplus with Turkey, with 2009 exports reaching 523 million US dollars and imports worth 134 million US dollars.

Turkey imports mainly cotton, thread and leather used in textile industry while exports iron-steel, textiles and machinery to Bangladesh.

Bangladeshi President Zillur Rahman sought Turkey's cooperation in the areas of river dredging, energy and IT.

Gul is leading a 180-member delegation, including cabinet members and businessmen, and is scheduled to meet Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wazed and opposition leader Khaleda Zia before his departure Saturday.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/308971,gul-turkey-bangladesh-trade-could-hit-1-billion-dollars-a-year.html.

Turkish President accorded ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan

New Delhi, Feb 9 : Turkish President Abdullah Gul, who is on a six-day visit to India, was on Tuesday accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi.

President Pratibha Patil and Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh were present on the occasion along with a host of other dignitaries.

Gul said, "My expectation from this visit is to have Turkey and India discover each other. In fact, the process has already started and we have to speed it up. Turkey and India have many similarities, both countries are secular and we have free market economy and our economies are booming."

During the visit of the Turkish President, the two countries are expected to hold talks on bilateral relations, economic and political ties.

The Civil nuclear cooperation will also be discussed between the two countries.

Source: New Kerala.
Link: http://www.newkerala.com/news/fullnews-47922.html.