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Gulf Daily News, UAE
Aug 10 2014
Erdogan pledges 'a strong Turkey'
ANKARA: Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday roused
tens of thousands of supporters with a call for a strong and new
Turkey, as he held his final mass rally ahead of presidential polls he
is widely expected to win.
"God willing a new Turkey will be established tomorrow. A strong
Turkey will be born out of its ashes once more tomorrow," Erdogan told
loyalists in the conservative central Anatolian city of Konya.
Konya is known as the bastion of his Islamic-leaning Justice and
Development Party (AKP) and the rally marked the culmination of almost
30 mass election meetings Erdogan has held up and down the country
since early last month.
Turkey will for the first time vote directly for its next president
today, with Erdogan looking set to continue more than a decade of
domination over the country as head of state.
Previous Turkish presidents, including outgoing Abdullah Gul, have
performed largely ceremonial functions but Erdogan has made no secret
that he would be a different kind of head of state who "sweats and
runs around".
He has called for constitutional changes after the 2015 general
election to give the presidency US-style executive powers.
In his final rally, Erdogan vowed he would raise Turkey's democratic
standards and economic record to create a "world leader and global
power".
He said: "There is no unattainable dream or unattainable objective for
this nation. The 12 years we have passed are a witness to this."
Erdogan's ruling party has presided over a dynamic economy having won
every election since it came to power in 2002. A recent survey found
that Erdogan would win in the first round with 57 per cent of the vote
against his rivals - the main opposition candidate Ekmeleddin
Ihsanoglu and Kurdish candidate Selahattin Demirtas.
"You elected the people's party on November 3 (2002) and God willing,
you will elect the people's president tomorrow," Erdogan said in
Konya.
He also boasted Turkey's foreign policy would be "more proactive"
under his tenure. "We will be the advocate of justice in the world,"
he said.
A former Islamic firebrand, Erdogan has often bashed Israel's
treatment of the Palestinians and compared the offensive in Gaza to
"Hitler-like fascism".
Opponents say Erdogan has exposed fault lines in Turkish politics and
his uncompromising stance created a deep divide between his pious
supporters and the secular segments of society.
Erdogan however vowed that he would embrace all citizens, including
minorities, without any discrimination and shrugged off concerns that
his presidency would interfere in people's lifestyles.
"Let's leave old Turkey behind. The deadline of politics based on
polarisation and fears has expired," he said.
"Regardless of their faith, minorities whether they are Armenians,
Greeks, Yazidi or Assyrian are equal citizens of this country and are
under our guarantee."
Erdogan also said he would keep the country united and put aside
fighting and pressures.
"We are in the hearts of 77 million. We embrace all. This is our
difference," he said. "We are Turkey all together."
http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/NewsDetails.aspx?storyid=383668
Aug 10 2014
Erdogan pledges 'a strong Turkey'
ANKARA: Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday roused
tens of thousands of supporters with a call for a strong and new
Turkey, as he held his final mass rally ahead of presidential polls he
is widely expected to win.
"God willing a new Turkey will be established tomorrow. A strong
Turkey will be born out of its ashes once more tomorrow," Erdogan told
loyalists in the conservative central Anatolian city of Konya.
Konya is known as the bastion of his Islamic-leaning Justice and
Development Party (AKP) and the rally marked the culmination of almost
30 mass election meetings Erdogan has held up and down the country
since early last month.
Turkey will for the first time vote directly for its next president
today, with Erdogan looking set to continue more than a decade of
domination over the country as head of state.
Previous Turkish presidents, including outgoing Abdullah Gul, have
performed largely ceremonial functions but Erdogan has made no secret
that he would be a different kind of head of state who "sweats and
runs around".
He has called for constitutional changes after the 2015 general
election to give the presidency US-style executive powers.
In his final rally, Erdogan vowed he would raise Turkey's democratic
standards and economic record to create a "world leader and global
power".
He said: "There is no unattainable dream or unattainable objective for
this nation. The 12 years we have passed are a witness to this."
Erdogan's ruling party has presided over a dynamic economy having won
every election since it came to power in 2002. A recent survey found
that Erdogan would win in the first round with 57 per cent of the vote
against his rivals - the main opposition candidate Ekmeleddin
Ihsanoglu and Kurdish candidate Selahattin Demirtas.
"You elected the people's party on November 3 (2002) and God willing,
you will elect the people's president tomorrow," Erdogan said in
Konya.
He also boasted Turkey's foreign policy would be "more proactive"
under his tenure. "We will be the advocate of justice in the world,"
he said.
A former Islamic firebrand, Erdogan has often bashed Israel's
treatment of the Palestinians and compared the offensive in Gaza to
"Hitler-like fascism".
Opponents say Erdogan has exposed fault lines in Turkish politics and
his uncompromising stance created a deep divide between his pious
supporters and the secular segments of society.
Erdogan however vowed that he would embrace all citizens, including
minorities, without any discrimination and shrugged off concerns that
his presidency would interfere in people's lifestyles.
"Let's leave old Turkey behind. The deadline of politics based on
polarisation and fears has expired," he said.
"Regardless of their faith, minorities whether they are Armenians,
Greeks, Yazidi or Assyrian are equal citizens of this country and are
under our guarantee."
Erdogan also said he would keep the country united and put aside
fighting and pressures.
"We are in the hearts of 77 million. We embrace all. This is our
difference," he said. "We are Turkey all together."
http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/NewsDetails.aspx?storyid=383668