Gul addresses parliament

Delivering a speech on the occasion of the commencement of the new legislative year of the Parliament, President Abdullah Gul stressed that many deep-rooted reforms that may be characterized as a "silent revolution" have been enacted in recent years for the purpose of raising the Turkish democratic standards. Stating that the Grand National Assembly, the house of our liberation, our foundation and our democracy, stands as the ultimate guarantor of our independence and future, Gul said, "Over the past six years of my term in office, I have always felt the honor and pride of being the 11th President elected by this august Assembly. While fulfilling my constitutional responsibilities on the one hand, I also closely observed the work carried out by the Turkish Grand National Assembly as the true body representing our sovereignty." Stating that political parties compete with each other and challenge each other in pluralistic democracies, but ultimately it is the country that wins, Gul said, "As someone who comes from an active political life having served as Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, I have always had faith in the outcome of elections and in the virtue and dignity of the ballot box," adding, "I never ceased to believe, even at times when democratic practices were challenged or trampled upon, that the will of the people would sooner or later manifest itself at the ballot box and in the administration of the country. I have always acted with the awareness that democracy requires tolerance, patience, perseverance and sacrifice. I was also mindful of the fact that democracy is a system of checks and balances. I defended, at every opportunity, the realization of democratic reforms in a way that broadens participatory and pluralistic democracy and extends freedoms. Therefore, despite numerous tragedies around us affecting fundamental human rights and democratic values, I have never lost faith that democracy and the rule of law will eventually prevail in our region."  Welcoming the reform package unveiled by the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government on Monday, Gul said, "I welcome the new steps announced by the prime minister yesterday which will in my opinion solve important issues in our country."