Sezer: Efforts Of Parliament And Government For E.U. Membership Deserves Eulogy

ANKARA - President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said on Wednesday that efforts of the Parliament and the government for European Union (EU) full membership deserved eulogy, and expressed belief that reforms would continue in the next period.
Sezer delivered a speech on the occasion of opening of 22nd Term new legislative year.
Sezer said supreme Parliament, which founded Turkish Republic, was the backbone of democratic parliamentarian system, stating that, ''Parliament initiated democratization process by undertaking vital assignments in implementation and preservation of principles and reforms of Great Leader Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.''
Sezer expressed his views on some issues which top the agenda of the country and the world, and stated that changing process, which was experienced because of rapid developments, obliged the countries to be strong in political and economic sense and to develop strategies which would be open to innovation.
Sezer said countries should enrich themselves without losing their own values and identities, and should open their doors to innovations and facilities.
Sezer said any public order in which fundamental rights and freedoms were taken under guarantee, which became a respectable member of contemporary world, which maintains democracy and in which wisdom and science prevail, is the main target of the Republic.
President said principles and reforms of Ataturk, which are the basis of the national unity, would continue to illuminate the ways to reach this goal.
Sezer said, ''we began to obtain positive results of structural transformations which the country fulfilled on the way to integrate with the contemporary world, and this strengthens us in democratization and EU full membership process. We should continue progress on this path without making concession, and we should be careful in implementing necessary practices.''
Sezer said completion of adjustment process with the EU depended on continuation of similar practices with determination, and appreciated the effectiveness of the parliament and government in this respect.
Sezer said it was a fact that Turkey, which is a developing country, had important problems, and that those problems could only be solved in compromise and cooperation.
Sezer said, ''as we take necessary steps to make our society reach to the prosperity level of developed countries, we should also attribute importance to social and cultural characteristics like tolerance, solidarity and unity. We should not make any concessions to actions that aim to disrupt our unity and integrity.''
Sezer said basic qualities of Turkish Republic could not be changed, stating that Turkish Republic would continue its quality of being a security, democratic and social legal state.
President Sezer said that everybody in a state of law, particularly legislative, executive and judicial organs, should abide by the rules.
Factors that limited political rule was state of law and democracy, Sezer noted.
Sezer said, ''the most important feature of the 20th century is the spread of democratic view and its large field of implementation. Pluralism and participation have become the determining features of modern democracies in the end of the 20th century. Especially, pluralism is the cornerstone of the democratic state of law.''
''Right to rule belongs to the political ruling which comes to the power by elections in pluralist democracies. However, unlimited majority administration, in other words the absolute sovereignty of majority is not accepted. Understanding and making use of different views is a requirement of the system,'' Sezer noted.
Sezer went on saying, ''because, the concept of 'public' is a concept covering all the citizens. Therefore, numerical majority is limited with public benefit and principle of state of law. It is important to make decisions after sufficient discussions made freely and openly and in line with democracy. Democratic activities of a decision-making organ is more important than its democratic structure. Democracy is a high-quality system of administration which not only foresees rule of the majority, but also protects rights of minorities and reflect their views to the administration. The ruling should respect to views and rights of those who don't vote in favor of itself. This is the virtue of democracy.''
''Pluralist democracy accepts that circles who have different views exist in the society and complete each other. Pluralism stems from differences not from number and aims to establish balance among different circles. Stability of social peace and regime is based on establishment of this balance,'' Sezer said.
Sezer stressed that pluralist democracy depended on separation of powers.
Relationship among powers in parliamentary system based on separation of powers depended on the principle of cooperation and balance, Sezer noted.
Sezer said, ''several legal guarantees were laid down in order to balance the powers and in order to preserve pluralism, the most fundamental principle of democracy. Arrangements to be made to overcome these guarantees will harm democracy. Participation of individuals in decision-making process and their views and solutions will contribute to settlement of democratic understanding and development of political culture. The sine qua non condition of pluralist democracy is a very strong civil consciousness. Participation in politics is not only to cast votes when the time comes. Announcing views through democratic means is also a participation in politics.''
''Rights of our citizens to suffrage and to participate in politics are under guarantee of the Constitution. But, only this isn't enough to fulfil pluralist democracy. Arrangements to ensure inter-party democracy should be made in the Political Parties Law and the Election Law should be turned into a structure which takes participation as a base,'' Sezer added.
Sezer noted that the state of law was the most important stage of modern democratic civilization.
One of the most important elements of state of law was the independence of jurisdiction, Sezer added.
SEZER: ''RELIGIOUS AND ETHNICAL CLASHES THAT THREATEN PEACE AND STABILITY IN OUR REGION SHOW THAT WE SHOULD BE VERY CAREFUL IN FOREIGN POLICY''
President Sezer said installation of prosperity and security of the Turkish Nation and preservation of national interests were the fundamental elements directing foreign policy, stating that respect to independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of countries were the main principles which Turkish foreign policy were based.
Sezer said, ''Turkey aims to improve friendly relations with all the countries on this basis. Consistency, commonsense and determination are among the fundamental principles of our foreign policy. Turkish foreign policy defends an order based on international law in the basis of principles included in the U.N. law. Turkish foreign policy supports development of all nations freely, being away from foreign pressures.''
Sezer said continuation of positive relations with all the countries, particularly the neighboring countries, are among the fundamental principles directing our foreign policy.
He said Turkey, which was careful in adjusting itself with the changing geostrategic conditions of the era, was in a position to fight against the threats and uncertainties.
Sezer said peaceful and compromising approaches based on international cooperation would provide Turkey to overcome many of its problems, and stated that Turkey would continue to be an important element of stability in the world and in the region with its foreign policy.
SEZER: ''PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN TURKEY AND UNITED STATES HAVE INDISPENSABLE IMPORTANCE FOR BILATERAL RELATIONS AS WELL AS REGION''
Stating that relations with friendly and ally country United States were on solid basis, Sezer said, ''we are willing to continue this cooperation increasingly in the next period in a way that will contribute to the stability and prosperity of the broad region around Turkey.''
Sezer said Turkey appreciated strategic partnership with United States which became mature after a long process based on mutual confidence and interest, and noted that partnership between Turkey and the United States have importance both for bilateral relations and for the region.
''Cooperation has been made with the United States so far in a very broad geography covering Balkans, Middle East, Caucasus, and Central Asia. The joint attitude which we, as the two allies, covered after September 11 terrorist attacks, constituted the most concrete example of this cooperation,'' Sezer said.
President Sezer said, ''we attribute special importance to cooperation. I would like to stress that transatlantic connection with the United States and preservation of NATO's principle role are of vital importance for us.''
Sezer said, ''NATO Alliance, of which we are an honorable member for long years, continue to have importance in our foreign policy. We believe that, one of our priorities as NATO members, is to eliminate the traces of intransigence stemming from Iraqi crisis. Our efforts to create a peace, stability and prosperity belt around us continue.''
SEZER: ''DEVELOPMENTS PROVED IMPOSSIBILITY OF REACHING A PERMANENT SOLUTION ON CYPRUS DISREGARDING EXISTENCE OF TRNC''
President Sezer said there were immense efforts last year for solution process of Cyprus question, stating that, ''we appreciate determination of Turkish Cypriot people to protect their rights and reach an equal and sovereign status under the leadership of TRNC President Rauf Denktas.''
Sezer said, ''developments proved the impossibility of reaching a lasting solution on the Island by disregarding existence of TRNC. We expect this fact to be accepted by the international community, mainly the EU. We hope that new initiatives made by the Turkish side in the past few months, and constructive proposals of Denktas, would help overcoming of confidence crisis on the island, and would help normalization of relations.''
SEZER: ''ONE OF THE IMPORTANT CONDITIONS FOR BEING SUCCESSFUL IN FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION IS RESTRICTION OF POLITICAL IMMUNITIES''
Sezer said that it was important to supervise and manage banking sector and activities in financial markets in appropriate to measures and principles of modern countries to develop economy in a healthy way.
Sezer said, ''structural transformations of our economy in recent years highlighted the role and effects of financial markets on the economy of the country. Confidence which is the basis of economic determination is lost in a milieu where a healthy order cannot be established in financial markets.''
Sezer said that one of the basic problems, which should be considered seriously and against which all parts of society should fight in a unity of understanding, was corruption.
Sezer noted that important efforts were exerted in fight against corruption in previous legislative year. He said that forming of Parliamentary Commission to Investigate Corruption and the activities of this commission showed the determination of Parliament in fight against corruption.
''One of the important conditions for being successful in fight against corruption is restriction of political immunities. Thus, rearranging the Articles No. 83 and 100 of Constitution should be one of our important agenda items,'' said Sezer.
Sezer said that it was known that Turkey's management system could not meet the expectation and needs, and the extreme centralist structure brought unexpected problems in the aspects of truth of time and decisions while carrying out public services. Sezer said that an administrative system which would meet the needs of society and would be transparent, just, productive, qualified, effective and functioning rapidly was required for the better functioning of democratic regime.
SEZER SAYS IT IS A HISTORIC RESPONSIBILITY TO TRANSFER A MODERN, DEMOCRATIC AND SECULAR TURKEY WHICH CATCHES UP WITH INFORMATION AGE TO FORTHCOMING GENERATIONS
Sezer said, ''here are some of the targets that Turkey should achieve till 2023: -To become European Union (EU) full member. We believe that our EU membership means sharing a pacifist, stable and bright future in which common universal goals are given priority, with our European partners. We also consider our EU membership a stage confirming foundation philosophy of our Republic and Ataturk's point of view towards future. EU full membership target is an indispensable part of Turkey's strategic vision. EU is the biggest modernization project of Turkey after the foundation of the Republic.''
''Economic development should be continued. Economic power is still a basic factor in internal and external security policies on the road to modern Turkey ideal. In case necessary structural reforms are made in economy, Turkey can reach its target to equalize its national income per capita with that of EU countries and be ranked among the first ten economies of the world,'' Sezer noted.
Sezer went on saying, ''power of Turkish Armed Forces should be increased. When the fact that the world, especially our region is still full of uncertainties and threats and military force is still efficient, it is important to modernize Turkish Armed Forces in order to meet requirements of the 21st century, protect our national interests, and maintain our stability; and support it by an efficient defense industry having a sufficient competitive power. It is of vital importance to preserve esteem of our armed forces in the country and abroad and meet its needs.''
''Modern science and education criteria should be preserved in education in our country in line with Ataturk's reforms and principles. And, we should reach the level of information society. Measures to preserve pluralist structure of media should be taken. Public management and local administrations should be modernized and made more efficient. Efforts should be continued to minimize differences in level of development among regions and interregional social and economic integration initiatives should be continued,'' Sezer said.
Sezer continued, ''social justice should be ensured and equality in opportunities should be created. Status of women in society should be improved. Politicization and development of separatist and reactionary threat should be prevented. National movement should be launched to fight against corruption and organized crime and necessary legal arrangements should be made to limit legislative immunity. Changes which will make political parties and election laws more modern and democratic and make citizens efficient participants should urgently be fulfilled.''
It was their historic responsibility to transfer a modern, democratic and secular country which caught up with information age to forthcoming generations in the 100th anniversary of foundation of the Republic, Sezer stressed.
Stating that they could fulfil their responsibility in national unity and integrity and in a regular harmony and cooperation among state organs, Sezer expressed belief that the parliament would undertake the leading role in that process and determinedly fulfil its duties.
LEGALIZATION PROCESS SHOULD BE STARTED FIRSTLY IN ACADEMICAL FIELD INSTEAD OF POLITICAL FIELD
Noting that compulsory education was 11-13 years in developed countries such as the United states, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands and Britain, Sezer said that activities to increase the period of compulsory education to 12 years should be completed rapidly in Turkey.
Sezer said that the biggest problem of Turkey in energy field was dependence on foreign sources. He added that the rate of dependence on foreign countries, which was nearly 70 percent today, was expected to further increase as consumption rose and the production of energy which had local sources was decreasing.
(GC-AÖ) 01.10.2003