Ak Party Leader Erdogan Re-elected As Party Leader

ANKARA - Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the leader of Justice and Development Party (AK Party) was re-elected as the leader of the party during the first regular congress of the party on Sunday.
Erdogan was the only candidate, he got 1358 votes, all of the votes of the delegates, and was re-elected.

KARAMANLIS WISHES PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT FOR TURKEY AND GREECE
New Democracy Party leader of Greece Kostas Karamanlis who attended the AK Party first regular congress as a foreign guest hoped peace and development for Turkey and Greece.
Addressing the Congress, Karamanlis said that the victory of the AK Party during the last elections was very impressive.
Karamanlis said that he was impressed by the resolution of AK Party government in undertaking reforms, adding his party trusted AK Party.
Noting that AK Party had a promising leader and he gave hope not only to Turkey, but also to the world, Karamanlis said that they saw the determination of Turkey to move on the way to Europe and that AK Party leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan also believed in that.
Karamanlis said that they favoured a just and realistic solution in Cyprus, adding that the prejudice between the two countries had to end. He said the two countries had to teach both history and friendship between the two countries to their children, hoping God to help both countries for peace and development.
Meanwhile, Greek Development Minister Apostolos-Athanasios Tsokhatzopoulos also made a speech and said that they were supporting Turkey's efforts on the path to EU and added that Turkey and Greece were making cooperation on world issues especially on crisis in the Balkans.
Kazakh President Nur Sultan Nazarbayev, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, Syrian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa Miro also sent messages of congratulation to the AK Party Congress.

ELD LEADER WATSON SAYS TURKEY CHOOSES DEMOCRACY BY VOTING FOR AK PARTY
European Liberal Democrats leader Graham Watson said on Sunday that Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan could not even be a deputy until a short time ago, but Turkish people chose democracy by voting for Justice and Development Party (AK Party).
Watson said that there were problems in the world such as increase of population, environmental problems and organized criminal organizations. He added that countries could overcome those problems by making cooperation.
Noting that Turkey opened its doors to democracy, Watson said that EU should open its doors to Turkey, too.

EROGLU: ''THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO ELIMINATE TRNC AND MAKE TURKISH CYPRIOTS DOOMED TO GREEK CYPRIOTS''
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Prime Minister Dervis Eroglu said on Sunday that there were people who wanted to eliminate TRNC and make Turkish Cypriots doomed to Greek Cypriots.
Making a speech in Justice and Development Party (AK Party) First Regular Congress, Eroglu said that they fought in Cyprus for years and Turkey supported them during their fight.
Noting that a permanent solution could not be found if the reality of two states was not considered in Cyprus, Eroglu said that they were in favor of an agreement and they wanted to live in peace and survive with opposite elements together in Cyprus.
Eroglu said that they were exerting efforts to reach a permanent agreement that would be found by the policies put forth together with Turkey, but not imposed solutions that would end Turkish Cypriots.
Eroglu said that the European Union (EU) countries should know that inhumane embargoes imposed on TRNC would be lifted one day and Turkish Cypriots had the right to live humanely in Cyprus.
(GC-ÖŞ) 12.10.2003