ANKARA - We have been working closely with him for he last four and a half years and we regard him with high esteem, U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Ross Wilson spoke of Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul who was announced earlier Tuesday as the presidential candidate of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).
I do not want to speculate much on the presidential vote and we need to wait until Friday to see how the parliament will handle the issue, Wilson told reporters at an Israeli reception.
Decision of the parliamentarians should be respected, he said, adding that the U.S. did not have any preferences in this matter.
Meanwhile, regarding Gul`s presidential candidacy Deputy Chief of Staff Gen. Ergin Saygun recalled remarks by Chief of Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit who expressed his hope earlier in April that the next president would be "loyal to principles of the republic _ not just in words but in essence."
"I have nothing more to say," Saygun added.