ANKARA - "Turkish nation will always respectfully remember his (former PM Bulent Ecevit) services to the country," Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said.
After former Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit died at Gulhane Military Hospital (GATA) on Sunday, President Sezer issued a statement praising Ecevit for his political ethics and manners. Sezer underlined that Ecevit contributed to modernization and development of the country.
In a statement, PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, "our sorrow is deep over demise of Ecevit who served our country as a politician and statesman."
Democratic Left Party (DSP) leader Zeki Sezer noted, "we feel deep sorrow. On the other hand, I feel pride that I had worked with Ecevit for a long time. We have lost a great statesman and a leader. His light however, will continue to shine over this country forever."
Releasing a statement, main opposition Republican People`s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal indicated, "Ecevit was a leader and a teacher. It is the end of an era." Baykal, who is in Chile to participate in a meeting of the Socialist International, stated that he decided to cut short his trip after he heard about Ecevit`s demise, and return to Turkey.
Deputies including CHP secretary general Onder Sav, deputy leader Esref Erdem and parliamentarians Fuat Cay, Yilmaz Ates, Bilhun Tamayligil and Zekeriya Akinci, Free Party (HURPARTI) leader Yasar Okuyan, DSP former deputy Emrehan Halici, came to GATA and then went to Ecevit`s residence in Oran district.