Abdullah Gul expresses pleasure over release of Turkish pilots
Turkish President Abdullah Gul talked to kidnapped Turkish pilots who were released on Saturday over the phone and thanked them for having common sense.
Gul shared the happiness of pilots' wives, said a statement released by his office. Dilek Akpınar, Turkish pilot Murat Akpınar's wife, thanked Gul for his call and said, "You really helped us" Suzan Akpınar, Turkish pilot Murat Akpinar's mother, said they waited patienty and would finally see their son. Meanwhile, Turkish Parliament Speker Cemil Cicek also held a phone conversation with pilots' wives to share their happiness. "The release of our pilots made us very happy," Cicek said. Turkey's main opposion Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu also expressed his gratitude following the release of the two Turkish pilots. Turkish pilots were welcomed by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and their families in Istanbul after landing at Ataturk Airport at 23:10 Turkish local time. Erdogan and the released Turkish pilots will hold a press conference soon.
