Turkish President Abdullah Gul has strongly condemned Israel’s latest offensive on the Gaza Strip and said that he was deeply concerned with the attacks.
Answering questions at a joint press conference with Congolese President Denis Sassou Ngusso, Gul said that it was impossible to tolerate such attacks and added that everybody expects the United States to warn Israel.
Regarding his statements on “discourse difference” with Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the interview he gave to the Financial Times, Gul said that whatever himself or the PM says would be given different meanings and reiterated that “as president, I am not a politician, I look at the picture from a broader perspective and embrace everyone.”
On the debate on capital punishment, President Gul said there was no legal preparations to reintroduce death penalty in Turkey.
Responding to a question on hunger strikes, Gul said that hunger strikes would not contribute to the solution and should be ended.
“I would not approve deputies and mayors, the ones that should work for a solution, and be a part of the solution,” said Gul.
(For original story http://www.aa.com.tr/en/headline/100589–turkish-president-strongly-condemns-israeli-attack)
Reported by Anatolia Agency
