Turkish President Gül urges democratic elections in Egypt as soon as possible

ISTANBUL – Hürriyet Daily News

Gül praised relations between Egypt and Turkey and expressed his support to the Egyptian people. Daily News Photo, Selahattin Sönmez

Turkish President Abdullah Gül said today that there should be elections in Egypt as soon as possible, defining the military intervention in the country as an “interruption” to democracy.

“What should have been normally, for [Morsi], was to leave office as a result of elections when it is time. This interruption is worrisome. There should be elections in Egypt again as soon as possible,” Gül told reporters in Istanbul.

“This is the only way for Egypt’s first democratically elected president, Mohamed Morsi and his friends not to be offended and Egypt to attain democracy again. I wish for a broad participation election to be helf as soon as possible and elected authorities to take office,” Gül continued.

The Turkish President also warned Egypt over the potential impact of political crisis on economy. “Egypt is a country which struggles with big economic problems. If it loses political stability, then these economic problems would matter even more. The country should take steps to maintain its democracy from where it has stopped.”

Gül praised relations between Egypt and Turkey and expressed his support to the Egyptian people. “I wish for this process to end without doing Egypt any big harm and for democracy to rule.” Gül stressed.

Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi was ousted and detained by the Egyptian army on July 3.