TURKEY: Abdullah Gul, newly sworn in as Turkey's president, has visited the mausoleum to the founder of modern-day Turkey

Record ID: 699614

  • Title: TURKEY: Abdullah Gul, newly sworn in as Turkey's president, has visited the mausoleum to the founder of modern-day Turkey
  • Date: 29th August 2007
  • Summary: VARIOUS OF RECEPTION IN PRESIDENTIAL HOUSE (*** FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY ***) PARLIAMENT CHAIRMAN KOKSAL TOPTAN, GUL AND PRIME MINISTER TAYYIP ERDOGAN POSING FOR PHOTOGRAPHS
  • Embargoed: 13th September 2007 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Turkey
  • Country: Turkey
  • Topics: History,Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA5D5SFMV1BJAQ7QF79K4DDASRU
  • Story Text: Turkey's new President Abdullah Gul, a former Islamist, has visited the mausoleum built in honour of the secular founder of modern-day Turkey Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.
    He made the trip just hours after being sworn in as Turkey's 11th president on Tuesday (August 28).
    Gul, who enjoys popular support, is the first politician with a background in political Islam to win the symbolically important post in Turkey's modern history.
    In contrast to past inaugurations, the army top brass and much of the secular elite, including the main opposition Republican People's Party stayed away from Gul's swearing-in ceremony.
    They fear a creeping subversion of the country's secular order under the former Islamist.
    But Gul pledged to uphold the principle of secularism, which he said also guaranteed the freedom of religion.
    A few hundred secularists protested in front of the heavily-guarded presidential palace, chanting "Turkey is secular and will remain secular."
    Gul has established himself as a respected diplomat since the AK Party was first elected in 2002 and secured the launch of Turkey's European Union entry talks. Many observers expect Gul to try to avoid confrontation.
    Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said he planned to present his new reform-oriented cabinet to Gul for approval on Wednesday (August 29).
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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