ANKARA - Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc who assessed the meeting of National Security Council (NSC) said on Wednesday that underlining importance of secularism was not a new discovery of the world.
Arinc who returned from Bosnia and Herzegovina to Turkey replied to questions of reporters at Ankara's Esenboga Airport.
When reminded the importance of secularism principle was underlined at the meeting of NSC, Arinc said that Turkey was one of the biggest countries of the world and stated that people should live peacefully.
Arinc said, ''NSC is one of the Constitutional institutions. Both government officials and high ranking commanders of Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) are included in this institution. NSC convenes under the chairmanship of president. NSC is such a council that its all meetings are very important. Because, Article 118 of Constitution lists duties of this council.''
''Underlining the importance of secularism is not a new discovery of the world. Of course, secularism is a very important issue. It is one of the basic peculiarities of Turkish Republic State. Talking about it at the meeting and mentioning it in the statement is a repetition of a known thing. Thus, there is not an extraordinary thing. Everything is okey. Turkey will see beautiful things.''
Arinc later gave information about his official visit in Bosnia and Herzegovina and said that both countries wanted to further mutual relations.
Stating that Bosnia and Herzegovina had one of the most painful wars of history between 1992 and 1995 and more than 600,000 people died during this war, Arinc said that he was coming from a country where there were many cemeteries for martyrs.
Arinc said that people in Bosnia and Herzegovina still shed tears and stated that but this country launched initiatives to develop.
Arinc noted that this country was trying to catch peace and added that those efforts should be explained in Turkey.
(EÖ-AÖ) 01.05.2003