ANKARA - Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said on Friday, ''the National Security Council (NSC) should be a consultative council instead of an executive council.''
Speaking at a program on the private CNN-Turk TV Channel, Gul said about news stories claiming that the General Staff objected to some parts of the seventh European Union (EU) adjustment package, ''we listened to views of all relevant institutions about the issues included in the seventh EU adjustment package. These views will be assessed. ''
Noting that beginning date of accession talks between Turkey and the EU would become certain in December of 2004, Gul said, ''there are many thins to do till December of 2004. This is the last chance for us. Turkey's Secretariat General for the EU have been carrying out a comprehensive work including all steps under the updated Accession Partnership Accord. The issues included in this work were given place in the seventh EU adjustment package. ''
Pointing out that there were institutions similar with the NSC in many member countries to the EU, Gul said that Turkey had passed from military administration to civil administration in 1983 following the military intervention.
''The law about formation of the NSC was adopted in order to provide control as passing from military administration to civil administration. We have been carrying out works to change this law. Our works were sent to the relevant institutions. We will assess these views,'' he said.
Upon a question about news stories claiming that the General Staff objected to some parts of the seventh EU adjustment package, Gul said, ''we will assess how to make necessary arrangements under the EU criteria. According to the EU criteria, the NSC cannot have executive authorities. Therefore, the NSC should be a consultative council.''
Gul stressed that the seventh EU adjustment package should be approved before September when the EU would prepare the Progress Report for Turkey.
Referring to criticisms against the Re-Association Draft Law, Gul said, ''all relevant units of the state have agreed that such a law is required.''
Referring to the Cyprus question, Gul said, ''there is not any direct connection between Turkey's beginning accession talks with the EU and efforts to solve the Cyprus question. However, a solution will facilitate Turkey's efforts. Even if the EU membership is out of question, we have to solve the Cyprus question.''
(UK-AÖ) 18.07.2003