Ciller Not To Attend Meeting In Presidential Office

ANKARA (A.A) - 07.06.2002 - True Path Party (DYP) leader Tansu Ciller said on Friday that she would not attend the meeting in Presidential Office.
Following the announcement telling that Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit wouldn't attend the same meeting, Ciller decided not to attend the meeting, too.
Ciller will hold a news conference in the parliament at 11.45 a.m. explaining the reasons of her non-presence in the meeting.
ASLAN: CILLER'S DECISION NOT TO ATTEND THE SUMMIT MEETING AT PRESIDENTIAL OFFICE IS A DISRESPECT AGAINST PRESIDENT SEZER
Motherland Party (ANAP) Deputy Group Chairman Beyhan Aslan, Justice and Development Party (AK Party) Group Chairman Bulent Arinc, and Felicity Party (SP) Deputy Group Chairman Veysel Candan criticized True Path Party (DYP) leader Tansu Ciller's decision not to attend the summit meeting at the Presidential Office under the chairmanship of President Ahmet Necdet Sezer.
ANAP Deputy Group Chairman Aslan said, ''Turkey's European Union (EU) full membership has been accepted as a national policy for years. 2002 is a critical year for Turkey's membership process. If Turkey fulfills short and medium term criteria by the end of the year, the EU can set a date for the beginning of full membership negotiations.''
''Ciller's decision not to attend the summit meeting was a disrespect against President Sezer. She should have attended the meeting, and explained her reaction,'' he said.
AK Party Group Chairman Arinc noted, ''we consider attending this meeting a duty. Ciller has been using Prime Minister Ecevit's health for her own political purposes. Not only the government, but representatives of all political parties having seats at the parliament have been invited to this summit meeting.''
Meanwhile, SP Deputy Group Chairman Candan told reporters, ''June 7 is the sign of that Prime Minister Ecevit's period has come to an end. Ciller aims at dragging the government to a weak position. She has been making a political show.''