ANKARA (AA) - Turkish Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc has remarked today (Tuesday) that the assignment of Kemal Dervis to the United Nation's (UN) most important program as administrator has honored the Turkish nation.
Kemal Dervis resigned from his post as an MP from Istanbul. Dervis met Arinc today for a brief meeting.
''We are extremely proud of Dervis and his appointment as the administrator of the United Nations Development Program. Dervis' new assignment has honored the whole Turkish world,'' said Arinc.
Dervis said that his visit to Arinc today was designed to express his thankfulness to Arinc and other MPs. ''The Turkish democracy involves competition but at the same time friendship. We have become friends with all the MPs,'' told Dervis.
Dervis indicated that, before announcing his candidacy for the UNDP's top position, he consulted with Mr. Arinc, leader of the opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) and the Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul. ''Arinc told me that running for an international position and eventually winning would contribute to Turkey's international success and publicity,'' stressed Dervis.
Dervis expressed that he accepted a very difficult assignment. ''Great problems, such as economic imbalance, exist globally despite developments in the technological, scientific and financial areas. ''We have to fight to close the gap between the poor and rich nations. I know that I can rely on my Turkish friends in finding solutions to global problems,'' commented Dervis.
(SOL-A֩
2005-05-17