Ecevit Says He Is Fine

ANKARA (A.A) - 01.06.2002 - Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said on Saturday, ''I am fine. I do not have any pain. As doctors proposed, I have been continuing to rest at home.''
Prime Ministry Spokesman Cem Avci read out a statement written by Prime Minister Ecevit.
In his statement, Prime Minister Ecevit said, ''I am in good health condition. I do not have any pain. As doctors proposed, I have been continuing to rest at home. Also, I have been maintaining my daily works.''

BAHCELI SAYS THEY WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT UNTIL HE DECIDES TO WITHDRAW FROM HIS POST
State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli, the leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) who is currently in the People's Republic of China, said on Saturday, ''we will continue to support Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit till he decides to withdraw from his post.''
Bahceli responded questions of journalists in Turfan city of Xianjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.
''As you know, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit has been suffering from health problems for a while. He has been receiving the necessary medical treatment. However, he has been maintaining his duty of providing coordination among ministers. It is not correct to take advantage from his health problems for political purposes. It is not fair to call on him to withdraw as he did not attend a meeting,'' he said.
Bahceli told reporters, ''Prime Minister Ecevit does not want to cause another crisis under current socio-economic conditions in Turkey. Turkey has been implementing an economic programme, and we have to overcome an economic crisis.''
''If Prime Minister Ecevit decides to withdraw, constitutional procedures will be carried out. His withdrawal means withdrawal of the Council of Ministers. In that case, the President will designate someone to form the new government,'' he said.
When asked whether or not early elections could be brought onto agenda, Bahceli said, ''one of the reasons for current economic crisis in Turkey is frequent changes of government.''
Responding a question about proposals saying that death sentence given to Abdullah Ocalan, the head of the terrorist organization PKK, should be commuted to life imprisonment without parole, Bahceli said, ''we are respectful to assessments and proposals of military officials. However, we will continue to say what we believe in.''
Referring to his visit to the People's Republic of China, Bahceli said that he had held very productive contacts with regional officials.