"Pulled From Two Directions
By Rana Foroohar | NEWSWEEK
Published Oct 4, 2008
From the magazine issue dated Oct 13, 2008
Turkey's president Abdullah Gul is one of his nation's most polarizing figures. Western-oriented and pro-EU, his Justice and Development Party has roots in Islam and pushed to abolish the ban on headscarves in universities, provoking debate about the nature of liberalism in this secular nation. Turkey's leaders face a similar balancing act abroad, with instability over its eastern and southern borders—and tentative allies in the West. NEWSWEEK's Rana Foroohar talked with Gul about being in the middle of it all. Excerpts:"
More:Abdullah Gul on Iran, Iraq, the EU and Turkey | Newsweek International Edition | Newsweek.com