Ecevit: Elections Have Been Excluded From The Agenda From Now On

ANKARA, Jan 24 (A.A) - Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, who also acts as the leader of the Democratic Left Party (DSP), said on Thursday that election was excluded from the agenda of Turkey, noting that, ''mentioning early elections at this atmosphere will contradict with good will.''
Addressing his party group meeting, Ecevit said indications in economy gave positive signals after the end of last year, stressing that business circles were hopeful for the future of economy and for the steps that were taken.
Ecevit said stock exchange increased, foreign exchange and interests decrased, and the speed of inflation was slowed down, adding that increase in foreign sale caused investment and production to increase. Ecevit said many factories began to recruit workers again.
Ecevit said, ''the tripartite coalition government is obliged to continue the positive steps, which it started to take in every field, till the end of election period. There are some obtacles in front of investment and production which don't stem from the government. We are also determined to overcome them.''
ECEVIT: HIS VISIT TO U.S. WAS POSITIVE AND SUCCESSFUL
Ecevit said his visit to the U.S. was positive and successful for Turkey, adding that Turkey in the past dealt with bilateral problems, but now that it is dealing with the problems of the whole world.
Ecevit said many issues, primarily fight against terrorism, were discussed with the U.S. President George W. Bush and the other officials during the visit. Ecevit said they also discussed Afghanistan, Iraq, Cyprus question, relations with Greece, Caucasus, Israeli-Palestinian problem, energy problem and economic issues in details.
''It was a very beneficial visit in every respect. There was also very great interest from our business world to this visit. We had only invited TOBB Chairman Rifat Hisarciklioglu, but 130 businessmen attended the visit on their own will. We were pleased to see this. I thank them all,'' Ecevit said.
''This was a sign to the U.S. This showed that Turkish business circles attributed importance to the relations with the U.S. in every sense, and particularly the economic and trade relations. I met with the representatives of business circles aboard the plane. All of them returned with very positive impressions. Those businessmen did not have expectations before the visit, but they believed that some doors could be opened.''
''Before the visit, we set up close contacts with the business circles to search for ways how we could increase trade and economic relations with the U.S. We made long and detailed meetings with the business circles. I had the opportunity to go there knowing what business circles think of. The Turkish businessmen had very important contributions there. I am grateful for them.''
Pointing out that they received close interest in the U.S., Ecevit said this interest came from the media directing public as well as the administration. Ecevit said leading newspapers like New York Times, Washington Times, Washington Post published positive news about Turkey.
Pointing out that that there was much attendance to the meetings with the U.S. administration, Ecevit said Jewish institutions were also interested in the talks.
Ecevit said the U.S. administration very closely covered the revival started in Turkey's economy, and stressed that, ''I saw that they were aware of the economic attitude covered by the government in Turkey. They stressed this particularly.''
Stressing that the administrators of the IMF and the World Bank conveyed their positive impressions in this respect, Ecevit said those administrators were hopeful for the revival in economy.
Ecevit said the U.S. President Bush particularly stressed that Turkey was a model country. Ecevit also said Bush stressed that Turkey proved that Islam could be in harmony with democracy and secularism.''
ECEVIT: HE HOPES TURKEY COULD PIONEER ESTABLISHMENT OF A NATIONAL ARMY IN AFGHANISTAN IN THE COMING MONTHS
Ecevit said the U.S. President George W. Bush thanked him for the support which Turkey expended in fight against terrorism.
Ecevit said, ''a security unit under the title of International Security Aid Force is being established. British forces head this unit for the time being, but both the U.S. administration and Britain want us to undertake the task within a few months. This is not something which we requested. They requested this from us. We welcome it, but a definite decision has not been given yet. However, there is such a wide-spread tendency.''
''You know the importance we attributed to the establishment of a national army and national police force in Afghanistan. Our demand is responded as reasonable. I hope we will have the possibility to pioneer the establishment of a national army in Afghanistan in the coming months. I have always stated that there was not an Afghan army so far. There were armies clashing with each other. This is still so. On Wednesday, I saw in the television that there was a dispute between two armies. To this end, an army should be set up soon. It is difficult to find persons to recruit at the time being.''
Recalling that Turkey contributed many countries in the region on military training, Ecevit said he conveyed those experienced to Afghan Prime Minister Hamid Karzai. Ecevit said, ''I told Karzai that Turkey is willing to set up army and police forces in Afghanistan.''
Ecevit said Turkey made economic and social contributions to Afghanistan in every period, adding that Turkey expended economic and social aid to Afghanistan although it did not recognize Taliban.
Pointing out that there were many people who intervene in Afghanistan in every period, Ecevit said Afghan people were the victims of the clashes between those who intervene.
Ecevit said Turkey contributed to Afghanistan not because of its own interests, but for the security of the region and Central Asia and as a requirement of the friendship stemming from history.
Ecevit said, ''we will contribute Afghan people to reach prosperity without having selfish accounts.''
ECEVIT: U.S. ADMINISTRATION PAYS CAREFUL ATTENTION TO TURKEY'S OPIONS ABOUT IRAQ
Prime Minister Ecevit said, ''the issue of Iraq was not brought onto agenda during our contacts with the U.S. officials. The issue was taken up during my meeting with U.S. President George W. Bush. President Bush used long and striking expressions about the issue of Iraq. He clearly pointed out that he could not endure Iraqi President Saddam Hussein any longer. He stressed that Iraq should get rid of Saddam Hussein. President Bush added that he did not have any certain plan, and noted that diplomatic methods were in question. In fact, it is promising that there were efforts to find a solution through diplomatic methods. President Bush said that they were aware of Turkey's sensitivity about Iraq's territorial integrity, and added that any step to jeopardize Turkey could not be taken. I hope that President Saddam Hussein will take seriously these messages of President Bush. It is unnecessary to maintain such a meaningless resistance against the whole world.''
Noting that there were different opinions in the U.S. society and administration about Iraq, Prime Minister Ecevit said, ''the U.S. administration pays careful attention to our opinions about Iraq. Any military operation cannot be launched in the region without information and contribution of Turkey due to our geographical position. I believe that U.S. administration would set up a productive consultation process with Turkey.''
Pointing out that they attributed great importance to strategical partnership between Turkey and the United States, Prime Minister Ecevit said, ''this partnership is largely about political and military fields. There are some unfair attitudes especially in our commercial relations. For instance, Turkey cannot benefit from commercial advantages provided for the member countries to the European Union (EU) and for some other countries. This deficiency should be removed as soon as possible. Although our military cooperation is of great importance in regard to Turkey and NATO, we cannot benefit from some facilities. For instance, the United States and Israel have been exchanging technology in military devices. We brought onto agenda these issues. Qualified industrial zones were set up in Israel and Jordan. We asked the United States to set up similar industrial zones in Turkey. They welcomed our proposal.''
Recalling that an economic council was set up in order to increase economic and commercial relations between Turkey and the United States to the level of strategical partnership between the two countries, Prime Minister Ecevit said, ''the council will convene in Ankara between February 26 and 27. The United States attributes importance to cooperation in energy. They prefer multi-optional energy lines. Also, the United States attributes importance to good relations with Russia. We have also been attributing great importance to relations with Russia since the very beginning.
Noting that bureaucratic obstacles were the most important obstacles in front of investors, Prime Minister Ecevit said, ''we have taken important steps to solve this problem with the Industrial Zones Law. Some leading U.S. newspapers published announcements to inform people on these legal arrangements in Turkey.''
Prime Minister Ecevit added, ''President Bush said that Turkey had been taking difficult decisions in its economy. He said that Argentina failed to take such decisions, and added that foreign investments would increase after Turkey succeeded in securing confidence. My visit to the United States has shown that there had been positive developments about our economy both in Turkey and abroad. Our economy has begun to revive.''