ANKARA - Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday that European Union (EU) target was the continuation of the contemporary Turkey project of Ataturk, the Founder of Turkish Republic.
Erdogan attended the opening ceremony of Fifth International Ataturk Congress held in Ankara.
Speaking in the meeting, Erdogan said that Turkey would never make concessions of its democratic values whatever difficulties it might face and noted, ''democracy, secularism and state of law which were the principles of Ataturk's republic project will continue to be the main principles of Turkish Republic today and tomorrow.''
Erdogan stated that Ataturk was an example to all world countries, especially oppressed nations and had a place in the hearts as the symbol of independence and freedom.
The congress was of utmost importance because it was an academic platform in which the values would be evaluated, Erdogan said.
Erdogan recalled that Ataturk was the pioneer of not only military victories won in the war fields but also political, social and cultural reforms.
How important and meaningful success Ataturk's leadership was in the history of last century was proved by the incidents that occurred in the region today, Erdogan said.
Noting that the republic was a project of modernization and civilization, Erdogan stated that the three main principles of that projects were democracy, state of law and secularism.
Erdogan went on saying, ''Turkey is an important power and actor in both its region and the world thanks to its modern institutional structure, democracy, peace and stability. Despite its structural and conjunctural problems, Turkey offers a real model which harmonizes modern values and traditions with its almost 150-year parliamentary experience, continuous civilization efforts and potential. Turkey is progressing on Ataturk's target to reach the level of contemporary civilizations today without any intimidation.''
EU target was the continuation of the contemporary Turkey project of Ataturk, Erdogan pointed out.
Erdogan said that EU membership initiative of Turkey not only aimed at making use of certain opportunities offered by EU but also would turn EU, which included Turkey, into a union which had a pluralist structure in real sense and which took democratic and humanitarian values as basis.
Stating that solution of current problems of Turkey could be possible by settlement of freer and democratic atmosphere, Erdogan said that therefore, Turkey would never make concession of democratic values.
Erdogan said that there were many big issues inside and outside Turkey, but they were not issues that could not be solved and overcome when Turkey's rich possibilities and capabilities were taken into consideration.
Conjunctural developments could not overshadow Turkey's will, Erdogan noted.
Erdogan said that they would determinedly continue to walk on their road to serve the country.
Everybody undertook important responsibilities to make Turkey reach the place it deserved in modern and civilized world, Erdogan pointed out.
Erdogan added that they needed cooperation of scientists and politicians to increase power of Turkey.
(BRC-AÖ) 08.12.2003