[PEN-L:32509] AP: The US wants to showcase Turkey as an example

[Sabri Oncu <soncu@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Turkish Lawmaker From Education Post
Tue Nov 19, 3:31 PM ET

By SUZAN FRASER, Associated Press Writer

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) - Turkey's president blocked a lawmaker from
becoming education minister because he had been fired as a
university dean for alleged Islamist activities, the prime
minister said Tuesday.

On Monday, new Prime Minister Abdullah Gul formed Turkey's first
majority government in 15 years after his Cabinet list won the
approval of President Ahmet Necdet Sezer.

Gul's Justice and Development Party ? rebuilt out of a banned
Islamic party ? won 363 of the 550 seats in parliament in the
Nov. 3 elections in this NATO (news - web sites)-member country
and key U.S. ally. The United States wants to showcase Turkey as
an example of a secular, democratic country that is
overwhelmingly Muslim.

Gul, a moderate politician, confirmed newspaper reports that
Besir Atalay had been selected for the education minister's post
but instead was named a state minister without portfolio after
the president objected. Gul then appointed Erkan Mumcu ? a former
tourism minister who recently defected to the Islamic-rooted
party ? to take the job.

Atalay had been dean of the University of Kirikkale in central
Turkey, but was sacked for allegedly appointing
religious-oriented teachers and favoring students with Islamic
views.

The secular Turkish establishment attaches great importance to
maintaining a nonreligious education in schools, which many
believe have become breading grounds for radical Islam. Female
students who wear head scarves, for example, are banned from
classes.

Newspapers reported Tuesday that Sezer switched a few other names
in the cabinet list to assure that secular principles were
maintained in key posts such as the Justice Ministry.

"Certain changes were made in the positions of some of our
friends," Gul told reporters. "Those were (Sezer's) wishes."

The Justice party has taken pains to ease concerns that it has a
secret Islamic agenda.

Gul was appointed premier rather than party leader Recep Tayyip
Erdogan, who was banned from holding the post because he was
convicted for reading a poem that courts said incited religious
hatred.

As a result, the new government was expected to make amendments
to the constitution to allow Erdogan to become premier.

Outgoing premier Bulent Ecevit formally handed over his office to
Gul in a symbolic ceremony Tuesday. Gul praised the ailing
77-year old, five-time premier as "an unforgettable name" and "an
important cornerstone" in Turkish politics.

The new government takes over with the Turkish economy in the
worst recession in more than 50 years.

Earlier Tuesday, Gul told an assembly of NATO-member lawmakers
that improving the economy was his government's priority. He said
it hopes to convince the European Union that Turkey should be
given a clear date to start negotiations to join the bloc during
a EU summit in December.

In a speech in Parliament, Erdogan asked newly appointed Justice
deputies to break away from the traditions of cronyism and
absenteeism that have plagued Turkish politics.

"Those who failed to respond to the people's wishes are no longer
here," he said, referring to the nearly all-new slate of
lawmakers. "Let's get to work."

Erdogan then flew to Germany as part of a European tour to lobby
for a EU membership date.

Article at:
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20021119/ap_on_
re_mi_ea/turkey_politics_37