8.28.2007

Gul Elected President To A Divided Turkey

Abdullah Gul is elected as the 11th president of Turkey. In the third round of the election Gul received his own party AKP’s 339 votes out of the 448 MPs present on the floor of the parliament. The main opposition party CHP did not participate.

The parliament is in recess for about two hours after which it will reconvene for the swearing in ceremony of the new president. Gul will take over the presidency tonight in Cankaya (the presidential palace) from Ahmet Necdet Sezer with a modest ceremony.

While massive celebrations are planned in Abdullah Gul’s hometown Kayseri and other places, half of the nation is sad and concerned.

Source: All Turkish dailies, August 28, 2007

Turkish Armed Forces Issued a Stern Statement to Mark Victory Day - One Day Before Gul Becomes President

Turkish Chief of General Staff General Yasar Buyukanit’s written statement came three days before the 85th anniversary of August 30 ‘Victory and Armed Forces Day’ in Turkey.

In his strongly worded message General Buyukanit said, “Sinister plans to destroy the unity of our people and the democratic, secular nature of our country are emerging every day in different shapes and forms. Turkish Armed Forces as it has in the past will continue to guard and protect Turkey as a democratic, secular, social state of law, without compromise.”


Read it all at The MEMRI Turkish Media Blog.

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