Gul urges Egypt to make presidential elections a priority

During a day trip to Egypt last week, meeting with Egyptian delegates and groups, President Abdullah Gul stressed the importance of making presidential elections a priority, saying that doing so would give political parties enough time to prepare for new general elections. Gul, the first head of state to visit Egypt since a massive 18-day popular uprising forced longtime leader Hosni Mubarak to resign, emphasized the importance of a constitutional democracy and shared ideas about the reform process and its challenges in Turkey with his Egyptian peers, diplomatic sources said. Gul expressed Turkey 's readiness to share its experience during this transition period whenever Egyptians ask. He also said establishing a solid economy and political and judicial system go hand in hand.