Posted on Sun, Nov. 17, 2002
Turk Leader: Turkey Can Be Democratic
SELCAN HACAOGLU
Associated Press
ANKARA, Turkey - The moderate leader of a pro-Islamic party named as Turkey's next prime minister says he will prove to a skeptical West that a Muslim country can be democratic, transparent and coexist with others.
Abdullah Gul, Turkey's premier-designate, is widely viewed as pro-Western among the leadership of the Justice and Development Party, which won the Nov. 3 election. But the overwhelming victory of his party, built from remnants of Islamic groups banned by previous secular governments, has raised concerns about the shape of Turkish policies.
"We will take steps that will shock European leaders, steps necessary in the democratization process will be taken," Gul said in an interview published in Sunday's Hurriyet daily.
"We want to show that a Muslim country can be democratic, transparent and modern and be together with the world," said Gul.
The interview was aimed at calming concerns about the direction of the nation which is a strong U.S. ally in the war against terrorism and could be on the threshold of being offered EU membership.
The Justice Party captured 363 seats in the 550-member legislature enabling it to form the first majority government in 15 years. Only one other party, the pro-secular Republican People's Party, managed to pass the 10 percent threshold to win seats. The Republican Party won 178 seats, while nine other seats went to independents.
The Justice Party was founded last year by former members of a pro-Islamic party banned by Turkish courts. It says its leaders have become more moderate, and would focus on fixing Turkey's battered economy, winning membership in the European Union and promoting social welfare.
The party has announced an ambitious EU-oriented plan aimed at fighting corruption, improving human rights, lowering inflation and increasing privatization.
The 52-year-old Gul was invited on Saturday by Turkey's president to form the new government.
But party chief Recep Tayyip Erdogan - currently banned from government due to a conviction for inciting religious hatred - is expected to dominate a new government until legislators can change the constitution to allow him to take power.
Gul has indicated he would step down if Erdogan becomes eligible for office.
The United States has tried to showcase Turkey as an example of a secular, democratic country that is overwhelmingly Muslim. Turkey, NATO's only Muslim member, houses U.S. warplanes at its Incirlik air base, and would be crucial to any possible action against neighboring Iraq.
Turkey is currently leading the peacekeeping mission in Afghanistan.
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