Presidential Candidate Gul: Everybody Will Witness That Democracy Runs Well

ANKARA - "Everybody will see that democracy runs well (in Turkey)," said Abdullah Gul, who has been nominated as the candidate for president of Justice & Development Party (AKP) on Tuesday.
Responding to questions of reporters, Gul thanked to his friends and to the leader of AKP for their support and trust towards him.
BIOGRAPHY OF PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE ABDULLAH GUL
Abdullah Gul, who has been nominated as the candidate for president of Justice & Development Party (AKP), was born in central Anatolian province of Kayseri in 1950.
Graduating from Istanbul University with a Bachelor's Degree in economics in 1971, Gul received his Ph.D. Degree from the same university in 1983. During his graduate studies, he also attended programs in Exter and London for 2 years.Following his return to Turkey, Gul participated in the foundation process of Sakarya University's Industrial Engineering Faculty and taught economics at this faculty between 1980-1983.
Gul who worked as an economist at the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) in Jeddah (Saudi Arabia ) from 1983 to 1991, was elected as an MP from the Welfare Party (RP) in 1991 and resigned from his position at IDB.
Between 1992 and 2001, Gul served as a member of Parliamentary Assembly of the Council Europe, as well as a member of Committee on Culture & Education and Political Committee of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE).
In 2001, Gul was presented with "Pro Merito Medal" of the Council of Europe and became Honourary Associate of PACE.
Gul who was appointed as the Deputy Chairman of RP in charge of Foreign Affairs in 1993, was reelected MP in 1995 and became a member of the Foreign Affairs Commission.
He acted as a Minister of State and Government Spokesman between 1996 and 1997, during the assignment of Turkey's 54th government.
Being elected as a deputy from the Virtue Party (FP) in 1999 for the third term, Gul acted as the Founding Board Member of AKP in August 2001, following the closure of FP.
During the early elections held on November 3rd, 2002, Gul was elected once more a MP, and he was nominated Prime Minister-designate in charge of founding the 58th government.
Gul was appointed the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs in March, 2003 and he has been carrying out this post since then.
Gul who is married with three children, can speak English and Arabic.