Turkish president begins farewell visits


Turkish President Abdullah Gül, whose presidential tenure will end on Aug. 28, started his farewell visits today. Gül is expected to visit Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM) Spokesperson Cemil Çiçek before convening with Prime Minister and Justice and Development Party (AK Party) presidential candidate Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at the prime ministry. Gül is expected to visit the heads of the Constitutional Court, Supreme Court of Appeals and State Council tomorrow. Due to the Supreme Military Council (YAŞ) meeting, the Turkish president will meet Chief of General Staff Necdet Özel on Aug. 7. Gül is also scheduled to convene with the political parties' leader at their TBMM headquarters. Two farewell receptions will be held at the Çankaya presidential palace in Ankara in the upcoming days. High state officials will be invited to the presidential palace on Aug. 12 before businessmen, celebrities, writers, journalists and NGO representatives convene with Gül on Aug. 19.