Gul: "My welcome in Diyarbakir was as warm as anywhere in Turkey"

President Abdullah Gul said yesterday that there is no difference between the welcome he got late last year from locals in the southeastern province of Diyarbakir than how he is received in western Turkey. "I told (the people of Diyarbakir) that they are no different from our citizens in the west," daily Hurriyet quoted Gul as saying. "When I stepped out of the car, I hugged the children and spoke to our people. The same children who were called a lost case for throwing stones this time threw me roses." He added, "If you show people that the government is always on their side, that you will always look out for them, and that Diyarbakir is no different from any other region in the country, then you've already solved a major part of the problem."