ANKARA, Jan 31 (A.A) - Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said on Thursday that gradual settlement of stability, peace and tranquility in the Balkans which had been the scene of many grievous incidents in last decade and changing the Balkans into a region of cooperation in every field, were of vital importance to all of the countries and nations in the region, adding, ''in order to fulfil this goal, Turkey closely cooperates with all Balkan countries, particularly with Bulgaria.''
Ecevit returned to Ankara after wrapping up his two-day official visit to Bulgaria.
Holding a press conference at Ankara's Esenboga Airport together with State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli and Transportation Minister Oktay Vural and Labor and Social Security Minister Yasar Okuyan who accompanied him during his visit, Ecevit gave information about his contacts in Bulgaria.
Ecevit said, ''during our contacts, we determined the issues that we should mutually fulfil in order to bring our relations and cooperation with Bulgaria to a higher level. Governments of both countries have the necessary political will to bring the Turkish-Bulgarian relations to the possible highest level.''
''Rapid political, economic and social changes and developments which have also affected the bilateral relations have occurred since the transition especially into pluralist democracy in this country which is our close neighbor and friend. Turkey and Bulgaria are in a process of cooperation which was institutionalized for formation and consolidation of a lasting peace and stability in the Balkans. Our country appreciates and supports efforts of Bulgaria which has become the source of stability in the Balkans together with Turkey, for integration with the European-Atlantic organizations and institutions,'' Ecevit said.
''Meanwhile, there are also important developments in our bilateral economic relations. With this respect, Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz had attended the Joint Economic Commission meeting in Sofia shortly before my visit. These complementary two visits were quite meaningful,'' he said.
Ecevit said that during his visit to Bulgaria, the ratification documents of the agreement which foresaw to prohibit use and stock of anti-personnel mines on the Turkish-Bulgarian border area had been exchanged and a protocol on this matter had been signed.
Ecevit said that the agreement and the mutual trust between Turkey and Bulgaria would be an example to all the nations in the Balkans.
''There have been many sufferings in the Balkans in the last decade. Therefore, it's very important to strengthen stability and peace and form cooperation in every field between the countries. Turkey is in close cooperation with all Balkan countries, mainly with Bulgaria, to achieve this goal. My visit was a new step of this cooperation,'' he said.
''Kapikule Border Gate has become insufficient due to increasing truck traffic between the two countries,'' he continued. ''We thought it would help to open Kapikule Derekoy Border Gate to trucks at a new place near Kapikule. I believe we'll solve this problem in a short time.''
When asked to explain his party's view of Article 312 of the Turkish Penal Code, Ecevit said ''It's a critical subject and parties are discussing it among themselves. I belive that our government would achieve to reach a consensus on this issue like it did on others so far. There's no reason to worry.''
ECEVIT ADDRESSES BULGARIA-ATLANTIC CLUB CONFERENCE
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said on Thursday that the gap between the poor and rich countries might create new threats for the peace in the world in near future and that the time to mention the Balkans with peace had come.
Ecevit delivered a speech during a conference organized by the Bulgaria-Atlantic Club at the Sheraton Hotel in Sofia, Bulgaria.
Stressing that today's world had intentions which contradicted with each other, Ecevit said, ''in the positive part of these intentions, the globalization process which is gradually getting strength is creating a new society of nations which are dependent on each other more. While giant steps are being taken in fields of science and technology, winds of democracy are blowing in the places of the world where such winds have never reached. The Western Alliance is now not encountering a hostile pact also in the field of security. Some of the countries where were separated with ideological walls once upon a time are now friendly states and even allies. The bi-polar system makes the world more stable.''
Noting that despite those positive developments, some unsolved problems of humanity continued to exist and poverty and underdevelopment were still effective in most part of the world, Ecevit said, ''if this gap which is getting deeper between the poor and rich countries cannot be removed and compensated, this may create new threats for the security and peace in the world in near future.''
Stating that some states and non-state actors in international area had the intention of obtaining mass destruction weapons, Ecevit said that also regional problems posed threats against the peace in the world and that many countries were facing ethnic violence.
Stressing that also the Balkans reflected this picture, Ecevit said, ''however, the picture is now changing. Balkan countries' multi-ethnic, multi-religious and multi-cultural structure should be protected whatever the cost is. Because, the alternative to this is blood and pain for the whole region. The time has come to save the word Balkans from its negative meaning and to enable it to bring positive concepts like ethnic harmony, mutual respect and living in peace to people's minds.''
TURKEY'S INTEREST IN BALKANS IS VERY STRONG
Ecevit said that Turkey had a positive regard for NATO expansion and with this respect, it supported Romania's and Bulgaria's memberships.
Recalling that the European Union (EU) and the NATO were in new enlargement and expansion processes, Ecevit said that Europe would be rising on racial, cultural, linguistic and religious differences when those processes were completed.
''Where is Turkey situated in this picture? The Balkans is Turkey's bridge to Western Europe. People of Turkish origin are living in many Balkan countries including also Bulgaria. Meanwhile, there are citizens living in Turkey whose grandparents and families emigrated from the Balkans in the past. Clashes in the region cause humanity tragedies and serious problems like high number of immigrations to Turkey. Due to these reasons, we have a strong interest in the region,'' Ecevit said.
Noting that Turkey supported international initiatives aiming to stop bloodshed in the Balkans as a result of the same reasons, Ecevit recalled that with this respect, Turkish troops and police units continued the roles they had undertaken to provide security in several parts of the former Yugoslavia.
Stressing that Turkey attributed importance to the Southeast European Cooperation Process, Ecevit expressed his pleasure with the existing tri-partite cooperation among Turkey, Bulgaria and Romania.
Noting that NATO's expansion targeted peace and stability in the Europe-Atlantic area, Ecevit said that Turkey continued supporting the Alliance's open-door policy and with this respect, it desired Bulgaria's and Romania's memberships.
Stressing that Turkish-Bulgarian relations, stability in the region and the dialogue between the two countries should be deepened in every field, Ecevit said he believed cooperation between Turkey and Bulgaria had accelerated as a result of increasing contacts in recent years.
Noting that terrorist attacks on September 11 had showed that terrorism threat had unbelievable dimensions, Ecevit said that fight against terrorism necessitated international cooperatieon.
Stressing that there were many things to do in the Balkans, Ecevit said, ''Turkey and Bulgaria have same points of view about all of these issues. We want to build a better future which is far from clashes for the next generations.''