Leader of CHP (Republican People’s Party) Deniz Baykal, who claimed AKP (Justice and Development Party) government deviated from its orbit with its projects, announced that he would not join the April 23 Children’s Day reception, in which Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc would be host.
A meeting was held in the General Staff about the matter and the view of participation in the official part of the ceremony but not being part in the reception was stressed. The daily program of presidential residence did not include the reception. The president Ahmet Necdet Sezer and the commanders are not expected to join the reception.
Bulent Arinc made a written statement about the developments, saying that the government would not make an application without established practice of the state.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan announced that they would join the reception of April 23 Children’s Day without their wives not to cause a tension. Criticizing the boycott of CHP, Erdogan said that the manner of CHP strained the country.
(23.04.2003)