Turkey, Turkish premier still most popular in Arab world

WASHINGTON (A.A) - November 22, 2011 - Turkey and the Turkish premier are still the most popular country and leader in the Arab world, according to a survey. The U.S. Maryland University released results of an Arab public opinion survey for 2011, and said that Turkey was the country that had the most constructive outlook. According to the survey, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan was the world leader who was admired the most and who was sought the most. Half of those who joined the survey believed that Turkey assumed the most constructive role in developments in the Arab world. France follows Turkey with 30 percent, then comes the United States with 24 percent and China with 20 percent. Other countries are Britain, Germany, Russia and Japan respectively. Erdogan received 22 percent of votes in most popular leader category, while Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadi-Nejad both won 13 percent of votes. Almost half of those (44 percent) who joined the survey in Egypt have preferred political system in Turkey.  The survey was carried out in Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco and United Arab Emirates last month.