"Abramowitz: Major Political Clash in Turkey between ‘Secularists’ and ‘Islamists’
Interviewee:
Morton I. Abramowitz
Interviewer:
Bernard Gwertzman, Consulting Editor
April 27, 2007
Morton I. Abramowitz Morton I. Abramowitz, U.S. Ambassador to Turkey during the first Persian Gulf War in 1990-1991, says many Turkish “Secularists” fear a government headed by the “Islamist” party of Prime Minister Erdogan could turn back the clock and introduce religion into public life. Abramowitz thinks these concerns are exaggerated. He adds that Turkey's nominee for president, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, is well known to the West for his conciliatory positions."
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