Gul: Despıte difficultıes, Turkey is moving forward

Speaking to Sabah daily yesterday, President Abdullah Gul said that he hoped Turkey would carry out comprehensive constitutional changes this year which meet the expectations of all sectors of Turkish society. Stating that there is a consensus on the need for such change, Gul said it is important that this is done though a common sense, participatory method that avoids political squabbling. Asked about claims that 2008 was a "lost year" for Turkey due to domestic issues, Gul said, "We saw some difficulties during the year, but if we look at the picture as a whole, I can say Turkey is moving forward and gaining strength. Turkey emerged from those difficulties by getting stronger." On the economic impact of the global financial crisis, Gul said Turkey was not caught unprepared by the crisis, urging everyone to continue to work together to counter the crisis and avoid a panic. Gul also said that he has a good working relationship with the government and Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan in harmony, dismissing claims to the contrary.