ANKARA (A.A) - 11.04.2002 - Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, the leader of the Democratic Left Party (DSP), said on Thursday, ''the word of genocide I used during a speech that caused offense among Jewish organizations, did not target Jewish people or Israel. We have been the most sincere friends of both Jewish and Palestinian peoples for centuries.''
Speaking at the DSP group meeting, Prime Minister Ecevit said, ''because of the word of 'genocide', the real theme of my speech was not understood. I need to reiterate that speech. The word of genocide I used during the speech that caused offense among Jewish organizations, did not target Jewish people or Israel. I expressed our profound sorrow over Israeli administration's attitude, suffering of both Israeli and Palestinian peoples in recent weeks, and serious loss of lives in the clashes. We have been the most sincere friend of Jewish people for centuries. We have always supported them throughout the history. Also, we have been sincere friend of Palestinian people. Despite long-standing obstacles and incitements, we have been expending efforts to settle peace between these two peoples. Why cannot peace and friendship be settled between Israeli and Palestinian peoples? Neither Israeli people nor Palestinian people are responsible for it. There are some external factors.''
''In recent months, both Prime Minister Sharon's administration and foreign-oriented terrorist organizations in Palestine are responsible. Also, radical elements turning Palestinian children into suicide bombers, are responsible. These elements have been allegedly struggling for Palestinian state,'' he said.
Ecevit said that radical instruments actually did not want a powerful and independent Palestinian state as majority of Palestinian people were inclined to modern structure, democracy and secularism.
Stressing that Palestinian people attributed great important to education even when they were suffering from serious conditions, Ecevit said that some outdated elements in Arab world did not want to see such a Palestine among themselves and they were worried that such a Palestine would be a model to other Arab countries.
Stating that also Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon did not want to come together with Palestinians, Ecevit said, ''he says, 'first there should be complete tranquility and peace, later I set up dialogue with Palestine'. He has been saying this for months. Those who do not want a powerful and independent Palestinian state continue their acts by making use of Sharon's attitude. They think, 'there won't be compromise and even dialogue between Israel and Palestine as long as there won't be complete tranquility and peace. So let's continue our bloody acts and send intifada children to fire'. This is very clear.''
Ecevit stressed that Turkey had been trying to bring the sides together for months and proposed to ''provide an out-of-sight place'' in Turkey for a meeting.
Noting that Palestinian Head of State Yasser Arafat had said ''he would come'' while Sharon had put forward complete tranquility and peace as pre-condition, Ecevit said that some people who really did not want a Palestinian state continued their acts.
Stating that consequently there were ''bloodshed, death, destruction and unhappiness'' in both sides, Ecevit said that people in most of the Arab and Islamic countries took to the streets.
Stressing that the disputes between the West and the East, and the religion and civilization has started to surround the world, Ecevit said, ''we are exerting efforts to bring or two friendly nations together and we will continue to do so. Because this region belongs to all of us and we want peace in our region.''