SIVAS - Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that it has been seen that Turkey's EU road has been shortened and gotten easier.
Erdogan stressed on Thursday that Turkey would be a heaven of investment soon.
Prime Minister Erdogan attended Sivas Economy Congress within the scope of his contacts in Sivas.
Addressing the Congress, Erdogan said that ''it is not possible to solve the problems of Turkey with a centralized administration system. By a new law, we will strengthen local municipalities, increase their authorities and responsibilities and ease the burden on Ankara. The problems will both be solved easier and solved in its place.''
Referring to the importance of economy, Erdogan said that ''the independence of a country in today's world can only be provided if that country's economy can stand on its own feet.''
Erdogan also mentioned his visit to Germany in his speech, and noted that ''we were pleased to see that Germany's support to Turkey's EU membership continues.''
Erdogan said that all regulations to improve the investment environment in Turkey were undertaken, adding that Turkey would become an investment heaven soon. Erdogan stressed that private sector, not the state had to make investment from then on.

AK PARTY HAS NO CONCERN ABOUT POSSIBILITY OF CANCELLATION OF NOVEMBER 3 GENERAL ELECTION
Asked if there was a possibility of cancellation of the general election, Erdogan said, ''this authority belongs to the Supreme Election Board (YSK). No authority other than YSK has the right to decide on the issue. YSK says that such an application has not been made yet. What the decision will be after such an application is made is another issue.''
Erdogan added, ''as AK Party, we don't have any concern. The last surveys show the situation of the political parties in Turkey. And, AK Party doesn't have such a concern.''
ERDOGAN: ''WE DON'T YET HAVE A DECISION ABOUT DISPATCH OF SOLDIERS''
When a journalist said, ''United States sent a draft resolution to United Nations for formation of a multinational force in Iraq. On the other side, foreign minister of interim administration in Iraq Hosyar Zebari said they did not want soldiers of neighboring countries including Turkey. What does the government think about this?'' Erdogan said, ''the draft resolution that was sent to the United Nations was also sent to us. We have not yet received it. Both we and foreign ministry will evaluate it. Statements of Zebari are his personal views. We have delegations currently visiting the region. We will make our evaluations after completion of their contacts. We don't yet have any decision on dispatch of soldiers. Furthermore, we may or may not prepare a motion after all those evaluations. If we are to prepare the motion, it is the Parliament which will take the decision. We will take a step after the evaluations.''
IT IS TRUE THEY PREPARE A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
When a reporter recalled about the statement of Parliamentary Constitution Commission Chairman Burhan Kuzu who said that some arrangements would be made to limit authorities of the president after the parliament re-opened and asked about recent developments, Erdogan said, ''I have made a statement on this issue in some tv channels. I haven't listened to statements of Kuzu. I was abroad for the last three-four days. It is true that we have a preparation for a constitutional amendment.''
Erdogan added, ''but, any initiative to limit the authorities of the president is not on our agenda. We are working on how an ideal and new understanding of politics, and a constitution which is an expression of an understanding required by democratic parliamentary system can be formed by compromise. We will put it into practice by compromise. Our government is sensitive and it will be so.''
23 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS FOR SIVAS-ERZINCAN RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECT WILL BE PROVIDED BY FOREIGN INVESTORS
Erdogan stated that Sivas-Erzincan rural development project would cost 30 million U.S. dollars while 23 million U.S. dollars would be provided by foreign investors. The rest 7 million U.S. dollars would be met by them, Erdogan stated.
Erdogan noted that the project would be put into practice as of January 1, 2004.
Erdogan said that the Incentive Law would be passed after the parliament was re-opened and pointed out that it would cover provinces with a national income per capita below 1,500 U.S. dollars. Sivas was one of those provinces, Erdogan added.
Sivas Congress was held on September 4, 1919 as a part of the initiatives launched to save the Turkish territories, which were occupied by Entente States after the World War I, from the enemies.
Here, the participants, including Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, agreed that the national societies throughout the country would be united under the name "Anadolu ve Rumeli Müdafaai Hukuk Cemiyeti" (Society for the Defence of the Rights of Anatolia and Thrace). The Istanbul Government tried to prevent the congress, but was unsuccessful. With this action of the Istanbul Government, relations between Anatolia and the Istanbul Government were completely broken off. On September 13-14, 1919, Mustafa Kemal informed the commanders, the governors and the Sultan in the name of the Congress that "the Council of Representatives" would represent the Turkish Nation. Upon this, the Damat Ferit Pasa Government fell and it was replaced by the General Ali Riza Government. Mustafa Kemal promised to help General Ali Riza on the condition that he respected the decisions taken at the Erzurum and Sivas Congresses. On October 20, 1919, Mustafa Kemal, as Chairman of the Council of Representatives, and General Salih, the Minister of the Navy of the Istanbul Government signed the Amasya Protocol with which it was agreed that free elections would be held to elect deputies, the resolutions and decisions of the Sivas Congress would be accepted, and the "National Assembly" should meet somewhere other than Istanbul, for security reasons. However, the National Assembly met in Istanbul and Mustafa Kemal was elected Erzurum Deputy.
(BRC-AÖ) 04.09.2003