ANKARA
Turkey's president said Tuesday it is time to discuss the presidential elections set for August.
"I had said earlier that I would discuss [re-running] with my colleagues, primarily with the prime minister, and then determine a road," Abdullah Gul stated at a press conference in Ankara with his Kenyan counterpart Uhuru Kenyatta, during which they addressed Turkish investments in the east African country.
Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will decide on whether to run for president after discussing the issue with Gul, who may serve as prime minister if Erdogan is elected to the presidential post.
Deputy PM Emrullah Isler had said a lawmaker from northeastern Bayburt province may resign to open way for Gul to become a member of parliament and eventually prime minister, so as to allow Erdogan to run for president.
The formula is similar to that used for Erdogan to take over the prime minister's office from Gul in 2003, when Erdogan could not be a lawmaker or PM due to a political ban. After the ban’s lifting, a re-election for which Erdogan ran was held in Siirt province. Gul then resigned as prime minister and was succeeded by Erdogan.
- Turkey-Kenya relations
President Gul said Turkey had signed several agreements with Kenya, which is attractive for a variety of investments, and added, "We will be in cooperation with Kenya for economical and security issues, including mining and energy projects."
Regarding the Turkish schools in Kenya, Kenyatta said, "The investment in schools is very sizeable and something we appreciate."
"But we are also looking to diversify the interest. There is great potential in the energy, textile, tourism, housing sectors," he added.
On Tuesday morning, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu held a meeting that was closed to the press with his Kenyan counterpart Amina Mohamed.
Kenyatta's visit to Turkey marked the first-ever presidential visit from Kenya to Turkey.
Meanwhile, Kenya's president reminded of Gul's first sub-Saharan visit in 2009, and said it had resulted in investments and strengthened ties, as well as daily direct flights to Nairobi by Turkish Airlines -- Turkey's flag carrier airlines company.
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