KIZILCAHAMAM - ''The main goal of politics in Turkey is to overcome artificial tension between the state and society,'' Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday.
Speaking at Justice and Development Party (AK Party) Central Executive Board meeting in Kýzýlcahamam, near Ankara, Erdogan said, ''our main aim is to create a climate of permanent political stability within the country. All of us should contribute to this goal as it is impossible for Turkey to return to coalition governments of the past.''
Erdogan emphasized that AK Party was the biggest party of Turkey, noting that, ''our power stems from the will of the nation. We should understand each other more. Values of AK Party are the values of the nation.''
Erdogan said that the world admitted Turkey's strong will and reliability thanks to bold steps that they took to make Turkey a state governed by law. He also said that after AK Party came into power, it started to change the destiny of Turkey.
Erdogan said that his government solved many problems of the country, noting that they reduced inflation rate to one digit and Turkish economy began to grow.
Stating that everyone knew that things have changed thanks to efforts of AK Party, Erdogan noted that still there are many hurdles to overcome. -TRKEY IS A PIVOTAL POWER-
Erdogan said that Turkey was not only a bridge, but also a pivotal power, a country which contributed to the world history.
''Democracy, human rights and state of law are the universal values that we will never give up,'' he stressed.
Erdogan said, ''I feel sad to say that the destruction in public administration caused by wasteful expenditure and clumsy bureaucracy couldn't be overcome totally yet.''
''Those who want to disrupt the stability through misinformation would not reach their goal,'' Erdogan emphasized.
-EU MEMBERSHIP-
Erdogan said AK Party displayed extreme efforts which no government in Turkey exerted before, to reach the target of becoming a full member of the European Union (EU). He emphasized that they did not act only by considering the advantages which EU full membership will bring to Turkey and said, ''we believe that Turkey will contribute and add a dynamism to Europe with its civilization and potential. We rely on Turkey and people of this country. This is a mutual confidence.''
(EÖ-AY-ULG) 27.09.2004