The BBC is reporting that newly-elected Turkish Prime Minster Abdullah Gul, whose political party has Islamic roots, has promised the parliament in Ankara that he will maintain the separation of mosque and state.
"The Turkish Republic is a democratic, secular state governed by the rule of law," Gul said. "I am determined to uphold these principles and to further strengthen them at every opportunity."
Ironically, Gul's election last week is being welcomed more by European Union nations than it is at home, where secularists are generally very adamant in their opposition to Gul, whose wife is the first Turkish first lady to wear a head scarf (Tansu Ciler actually became the first woman elected as prime minister some 15 years ago in Turkey).
Senior military officials did not attend Gul's inaguration.
And, opposition leader Onur Oymen also expressed reservations to the BBC:
"A president should have the approval of the majority of the public," Oymen said. "This is not the case for Gul. I hope his election will not lead to tension."
Acclaimed Turkish newspaper columnist Mehmet Ali Birand Gul will face an uphill battle in terms of easing secularist concerns, but he added that the new Turkish PM is capable of fulfilling his obligations of uniting what has become the ultimate swing state on the world stage.
Secularist protests in Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir and the port city of Channakkale drew thousands of people to the streets several months prior to the August elections where Gul's party also won 47 percent of the parliamentary seats.
Personally, while I am concerned about Gul's election, he seems more capable of leading Turkey through a difficult geopolitical period than our own inept president here in America.
Useful links:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice
My thoughts go out to all those affected by Hurriance Felix in Central America. The hurricane hit the Honduran border of Nicaragua earlier today. For those, who are able and willing to help, assistance can be sent to the U.S. Red Cross.
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