BALIKESIR (CIHAN) - The Turkish Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday said, referring to his decision not to meet the Israeli Deputy Prime Minister in Ankara, that people who sought appointments with him could not be allowed to determine the actual appointments.
Erdogan made his remarks in answer to reporters' questions on Ekinlik Island in Balikesir. On his not meeting with the Israeli Deputy Prime Minister, Erdogan said, "A demand for a meeting came from Israel and we made an appointment for Tuesday but the Israeli side wanted a meeting for Wednesday which was already taken. The people who seek appointments with me cannot be allowed to determine the actual appointments".
Prime Minister Erdogan also criticized the media's use of the word 'transfer' for the switch of two Republican People's Party (CHP) deputies to the Justice and Development Party (AK). "The transition of two CHP deputies to the AK Party is not a 'transfer'. Previously, switches from the Democratic Leftist Party (DSP) to the CHP took place."
Edirne CHP Deputy, Necdet Budak and CHP Adana Deputy, Atilla Basoglu have resigned from their party in order to join the AK Party.
Erdogan, on the question whether the decision of the Turkish Supreme Court of Appeals on the pro-Kurdish Democracy Party (DEP) deputies would be a problem on the path to the EU, said, " The judges will take their decision according to the principles of independence and the division of powers."
The 9th District Penal Court of the Turkish Supreme Court has overturned the verdict of the Ankara State Security on the ex-MPs of the DEP. The former DEP deputies were elected to parliament in 1991. The Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA) cancelled their parliamentary membership in the same year, however, because of pro-Kurdish sympathies expressed at the oath-taking ceremony in the TGNA. Early last month the Turkish Supreme Court of Justice 9th District Penal Court had ordered the release of the 4 ex-MPs pending an appeal.