Turkey's First Female Leader Wishes Merkel Well

Tansu Ciller was Turkey's first female prime minister, from 1993-1996. Her election was seen as a signal to Islamic fundamentalists and to the Western world, as Ciller was considered a symbol of modern Turkey.

DW-WORLD: What effect did your election as prime minister have on Turkey?

Tansu Ciller: I was a pioneer, but I had a lot of support -- both from men and from women. More than 80 percent voted for me. It was important to show that ability counts -- independent from gender. Turkey presented itself as a modern country.

What problems were you confronted with?

As a woman in such a position, you face advantages as well as disadvantages. But over time, you can show that professional qualifications are important. And when that happens, at some point gender doesn't play a role anymore. Leadership then takes the forefront.

Where do you see parallels to Merkel's situation?

Mrs. Merkel is also in the role of a pioneer. Like me, she, too, must try to unite and lead a coalition. I also had to lead a coalition with Social Democrats and bring together different positions.

What advice do you have for Merkel?

I would advise her to be thankful to the people for the election and to serve them -- men and women -- since, in the election, Germany gave her its trust.

Much has been said about Merkel's appearance. Her hairstyle and clothes were repeatedly the focus of attention. Did that happen to you, too?

That is bound to happen. People who are in the forefront and who are leaders in a society usually attract this kind of attention. In time, it will be her decisions that will get the attention. In time, it will be her leadership that will get the attention. It's the leadership that's most important right now, and as leadership strengthens, the other agenda that is in the forefront right now will decrease in the attention of the people. They will look at her as a leader who is making pretty good decisions for their lives.

You wanted Turkey to become an EU member as soon as possible. Merkel prefers a "privileged partnership." How do you feel about that?

It's one thing, what you think as the opposition leader. It's another thing, what you need to do as a leader with a vision. I think that the new chancellor will have to look at the world and at her own country with a vision for the future. And when and if she does that, she will think otherwise.

How is Merkel perceived in Turkey?

We are happy that Germany is going through a stage that Turkey already has gone through. And we wish Mrs. Merkel all the success, because we feel that the people of Germany are our close allies and friends. And historically we've always been very close to each other. Therefore we are hoping for leadership with a vision.

What would you like to say to Merkel?

I congratulate her and wish her the best. I do hope that as a leader with a vision she will see the future and think of the advantages for her country -- which I feel will benefit extremely from the EU membership of Turkey.