"Turkey: today and tomorrow Wednesday, September 12, 2007
DR. FARUK LOĞOĞLU
Ambassador (ret.)
The July 22 elections, Mr. Abdullah Gül’s presidency and the rapid installation of the new government have created in Turkey and abroad an aura of optimism about the country’s future course. The laudatory emphases are on the continuation of political stability and reforms, economic growth, pursuit of European Union membership and through a new “civil” constitution, on the better protection of human rights and basic freedoms. The strong mandate won by the Justice and Development Party (AKP) is interpreted as the ascendancy of the long-excluded moderate Islamic groupings to power and conversely, as the “defeat” of the secularist establishment."
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