President Gül Expresses His Evaluations on Current Domestic Affairs

President Abdullah Gül, during his domestic visit to the northern city of Zonguldak, shared his comments with the press on the agenda including the upcoming Presidential elections, freedom of the press and the defense reform to which the Secretariat General of the National Security Council (MGK) referred in the statement it issued following the last meeting held at the Çankaya Presidential Palace.

President Abdullah Gül expressed his evaluations on the agenda during his domestic visit to the northern city of Zonguldak.

PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS

Noting that several candidates will run for president in the upcoming presidential elections-which will be held in August- President Gül said that the people will make a decision at the end of these elections during which, he said, the next President will be elected by the people for the first time. "I have reiterated before that Prime Minister Erdoğan and I will reach a decision about which one of us will announce his candidacy, but I think the Prime Minister will carry out further consultations. As a matter of fact, I would rather not make further comments on this issue, but let me reiterate once again that the rules of the elections have already been established. We have democracy with all its functioning elements. Therefore, no one should expect any political risk, tension, crisis or whatsoever. We will follow the usual process."

FREEDOM OF PRESS

President Gül commented on a question regarding the freedom of the press in the country as follows: "It is of great importance and a basic indication of democracy indeed. We have to take heed to the criticisms toward this issue and make efforts to overcome them. I have always underscored that everyone is entitled to expresssing their thoughts in an aproppriate tone and manner and the media and press are ways through which people can evince their ideas."

DEFENSE REFORM

The President also shared his evaluations on the defense reform to which the Secretariat General of the National Security Council (MGK) referred in the statement it issued following the usual meeting held at the Çankaya Presidential Palace yesterday. "When the USSR collapsed and the Cold War ended, many countries-including our allies- implemented radical defense reforms and restructured their militaries. We are among the few countries that have not done that since 1960. What is important is to make our Armed Forces-with their deterrence abilities and effectiveness-strong in every way at all times. As the whole nation, we always take pride in our Armed Forces' power. This defense reform is about a comprehensive studies carried out by an adminisitration that I have established and which include the civillian and military officials."

President Gül afterwards walked to Ulu Mosque, where he performed the Friday Prayer.

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