Recep Tayyip Erdogan took over as Turkey's prime minister Friday under intense pressure to allow in U.S. ground troops or at least open the country's airspace to American warplanes for attacks on Iraq.
President Bush called Erdogan earlier this week asking him to quickly open up Turkey's airspace to American warplanes. Vice President Dick Cheney also called the Turkish leader Thursday and Bush followed up on his call with a letter.
Erdogan said Friday he would not submit another motion on troop deployment before parliament approves his government, expected late next week. "For the time being it is not on our agenda. All these issues will be dealt with after the vote of confidence," Erdogan was quoted as saying by the Anatolia news agency.
Once the government receives that vote, outgoing Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis said, Erdogan will try to gauge the support among the legislators for a new motion.
Erdogan made few other changes in the Cabinet. Outgoing premier Abdullah Gul became deputy prime minister and foreign minister, replacing Yakis.
Below is the list of ministers in the new Turkish government.
Prime Minister: Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister: Abdullah Gul
State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister: Abdullatif Sener
State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister : Mehmet Ali Sahin
State Minister : Mehmet Aydin
State Minister : Besir Atalay
State Minister : Ali Babacan
Justice Minister: Cemil Cicek
National Defense Minister: Vecdi Gonul
Interior Minister : Abdulkadir Aksu
Finance Minister : Kemal Unakitan
National Education Minister : Huseyin Celik
Public Works and Housing Minister : Zeki Ergezen
Health Minister : Recep Akdag
Transportation Minister : Binali Yildirim
Agriculture and Rural Affairs Minister : Sami Guclu
Labor and Social Security Minister: Murat Basesgioglu
Industry and trade Minister: Ali Coskun
Energy and Natural Resources Minister: Hilmi Guler
Culture Minister: Erkan Mumcu
Tourism Minister: Guldal Aksit
Forestry Minister: Osman Pepe
Environment Minister: Kursat Tuzmen
(Albawaba.com)
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
