Isn't it ironic that even the foreign minister of Israel who is extremely sensitive to Islamic fundamentalists praises President Abdullah Gul and accepts him with his face value when the main opposition CHP still insists the head of state is a religious activist with a hidden agenda? CHP has to change this meaningless attitude and switch to a serious opposition role for the sake of the country.
President Abdullah Gul hosted his first reception entertaining state officials on the occasion of taking over the post of head of state.
All the military leaders were missing because they had "prior engagements." The presidential palace explained that the military leaders had already scheduled visits to units outside Ankara as it is customary for them to start these tours annually soon after August 30 when all newly appointed commanders officially take office. So they could not attend… Does anyone buy this explanation? All the commanders could leave Ankara but at least the military could be represented by the deputy chief of staff instead of a junior commander… When there is a will there is a solution but at least the military offered an alibi…
On the other hand the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) openly boycotted the reception officially ignoring the head of state.
The CHP and its rigid politicians as well as their supporters still claim Abdullah Gul is a religious fundamentalist at heart and will never change. They say he and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan have a hidden religious agenda to turn Turkey into a Islamic state and scrap secularism.
So they have put up this meaningless resistance which is regarded as childish by many quarters even in Turkey.
What is disturbing is that such the "main opposition party" of our country is displaying such an irresponsible behavior. These are the people who should be putting up a viable struggle against the government with hard facts and strong arguments instead of creating imaginary threats and trying to hurt the government and the president with these…
They are so rigid and so devoid of common sense that they did not even bother to give Abdullah Gul the benefit of the doubt.
Isn't it ironic that foreign leaders are displaying more trust in our leaders than some of our own leaders in responsible places? Look at the congratulations messages flooding the presidential palace from foreign capitals.
These leaders all have had very close relations with Gul bordering on outright friendship. They know as much as CHP leader Deniz Baykal who Gul is and who he is not. They know well that he is not a religious zealot wearing a western suit.
Israel is the leading country that is extremely sensitive to Islamic fundamentalism. Yet the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Israel Tzipi Livni has spoken to Gul on the phone voicing her pleasure over his election as president.
Israeli Foreign Ministry sources said the two mentioned the favorable personal relationship they have built over the years and its contribution to the strengthening of the connection between Israel and Turkey. The two leaders agreed to continue to fortify the relationship in light of the tasks and challenges facing the region.
Would an Israeli leader establish such a relationship with a Muslim fundamentalist?
These should be eye openers to all of us in Turkey. We have a treasure in our hands with Gul as president. He is now in a very strong position to make an impact on world leaders and also promote our country very effectively. Unlike former President Ahmet Necdet Sezer Gul speaks fluent English and thus can effectively communicate with world leaders which is a great advantage.
The CHP has to abandon this meaningless and naive position and start acting like a responsible main opposition party. Gul can be an asset for them as much as for all the other parties.
