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Turkish Presidentâ€™s uncle: â€œWe couldnâ€™t imagine that Abdullah GÃ¼l would be presidentâ€ â€“ INTERVIEW

Turkish Presidentâ€™s uncle: â€œWe couldnâ€™t imagine that Abdullah GÃ¼l would be presidentâ€ â€“ <font color=red>INTERVIEW</font>

02 June 2011 11:04 (UTC +04:00)

Baku. Parvin Abbasov â€“ APA. Interview with Turkish President Abdullah GÃ¼lâ€™s uncle, writer and researcher Abdullah Satoglu

- How many times do you visit Azerbaijan?

- This is my third visit to Azerbaijan. For the first time, I attended the â€œCaspian poetic nightsâ€ in 2004. Then I joined the events on the 75th anniversary of the Azerbaijan Writers Union in 2009. This time I visited Azerbaijan for the presentation of 15th Award for Contribution to the Turkic World established by the Turkic Writers and Artists Union (TURKSAV). I am also a press adviser to TURKSAV. Honorable Ambassador Hulusi Kilic and Chairman of the Azerbaijan Writers Union Anar are our close friends.

- Are you member of Justice and Development Party (AKP) where your nephew, Turkish President Abdullah GÃ¼l is represented?

- I joined the politics in 1960s. I was a candidate from the Justice Party in the parliamentary elections from Kayseri in 1969. I couldnâ€™t win because of that time election system. I left the politics and came to literature. I published 20 books, including five poetic and 15 research works. I am not in politics. I am not a member of Justice and Development Party. Of course, we support AKP. Abdullah GÃ¼l is my nephew. As the President, he doesnâ€™t interfere in the domestic political processes.

- What do you expect from the parliamentary elections in Turkey on June 12? Will AKP win?

- AKP leads all opinion polls, which show that AKP will win 45-50% of votes. If the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) canâ€™t gain required 10% of votes, AKP parliamentary seats will increase.

- What do you think about the accusations against AKP regarding the tapes discrediting MHP?

- The government has no relations to the tapes or Ergenekon. Law-enforcement organizations investigate the Ergenekon case. Of course, the sources spreading the discrediting tapes will be found. If the government had any relation to this issue, it would be publicized.

- What is about the childhood of Abdullah GÃ¼l?

- Abdullah GÃ¼l is my nephew and I was his guardian in the school. He showed interest to literature, culture, history in that time. The teachers were always congratulating me for his achievements. He extended the sphere of his interests during the university years. He was a quiet child, but very talented and skillful.

- Did you imagine that he will be president?

- Abdullah was a member of the Turkish Students Union during the university years. The students gathered in Necib Fazilâ€™s Thought Club as well. His interest to the politics was known in that time. But we couldnâ€™t imagine that he would be president.