ANKARA (AA) - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday that State Minister Guldal Aksit, Public Works and Housing Minister Zeki Ergezen and Agriculture and Rural Affairs Minister Sami Guclu resigned from the cabinet.
Erdogan said that Agriculture Minister Sami Guclu was replaced by Mehdi Eker; State Minister Guldal Aksit (responsible for the women and family affairs) was replaced by Nimet Cubukcu and Faruk Nafiz Ozak replaced Zeki Ergezen as the Public Works and Housing Minister.
''The new ministers have started their new duties,'' Erdogan said. ''We are starting a new process as of today,'' he said.
Prime Minister Erdogan added that President Ahmet Necdet Sezer had approved the changes.
When asked if it was Prime Minister Erdogan who wanted the three ministers to resign, Erdogan said that the government used its discretion and the decision (of cabinet reshuffle) would be published in the Official Gazette on Friday.
Upon a question asking if there was a change in State Minister Ali Babacan's mission, Erdogan said that there was no such thing at the moment. ''Yet his mission will intensify as he has also been appointed as the chief negotiator,'' Erdogan added.
2005-06-02