ANKARA (A.A) - 07.06.2002 - Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader and Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli has said that joining the EU was Turkey's main political goal and his party, MHP sincerely supports efforts to achieve this result.
Speaking at a press conference at his party's Balgat building on Friday, Bahceli said at the meeting political party leaders had the chance to express their views on a number of important matters that are on Turkey's agenda. He also criticized True Path Party (DYP) leader Tansu Ciller for not attending the meeting. He said that everything that was said during the meeting was recorded and Ciller missed an important opportunity by not coming to the meeting.
''Turkey's relations with the EU, our national sensitivities and the MHP's consistent and resolved attitude during Turkey's EU membership accession process were discussed at the summit,'' Bahceli said.
''Turkey is going through a critical time,'' he continued. ''We are all facing a historic responsibility. We have to hold Turkey's long term interests over everything. The EU membership is Turkey's main political goal. The MHP sincerely supports Turkey's EU membership. After Turkey became an EU member candidate at the Helsinki Summit, it took a number of very important steps including the preparation of the National Program. Most of the targets included in the National Program have been reached. The MHP had very important contributions to the implementation of these radical reforms. We have a clean conscience on this matter.''
BAHCELI: MHP WANTS TURKEY TO JOIN THE EU BY PRESERVING ITS NATIONAL UNITY AND INTEGRITY
Bahceli has said that his party continued to be faithful to the principles included in the National Program and added ''The MHP wishes Turkey to join the EU by preserving our national unity and integrity.''
He said that the MHP wanted Turkey to become an EU member without risking social peace and stability.
''Today, we are going through a very critical point regarding our relations with the EU,'' he said. It's very important that the EU should give Turkey a certain date during the Copenhagen Summit in December of this year. These demands which are imposed on Turkey as a precondition are the lifting of the death penalty and allowing education and broadcast in mother tongue. Later, the Cyprus issue will also be imposed on Turkey as a third issue.''
Bahceli said, ''EU intends to complete technical membership negotiations with the Greek Cypriot administration till the end of this month and accept Cyprus as full member in December 2002. This is obvious now. In such a condition, Turkey will be face to face with dilemma. In return for setting a date for Turkey's membership negotiations, below listed things will be demanded:
Either persuade Mr. Denktas by consenting to a solution of the Cyprus question in the direction of Greek-Greek Cypriot expectations or at least consent to the full membership of Cyprus before a political solution and don't put into practice the measures you had earlier announced to implement in such a condition.
MHP hopes to conclude our EU membership process by maintaining the fundamental qualities of the state, its unitary structure and national unity and solidarity. We sincerely want Turkey to become an EU member by undergoing a transformation process which will not harm its social structure and jeopardize internal peace, tranquility and stability.
MHP thinks that these three issues which have been brought in front of us as preconditions cannot be evaluated separately from the past and that they cannot be handled independently from the terrorism fact experienced in Turkey and the ongoing terrorism threat potential.
We think that the new politicization process of the terrorist organization and its strategy to reach their intentions by using the EU membership cannot be ignored. We also think that correct evaluation of the reality that the EU's demands overlap with PKK/KADEK's political platform is inevitable.''
Bahceli noted that all these were their sincere views and stated, ''to this end, it is not possible for MHP to accept the three issues that are tried to be imposed and the equation that occur related with Cyprus question in today's conjuncture.'' ''The MHP which has been fully supporting Turkey's EU full membership, has a different point of view at this point. Within this context, we are in a junction on the road. Being aware of our responsibilities, we want to learn views of leaders of other political parties on some main issues. Do political parties consider Turkey's fulfilling these four issues including Cyprus under all conditions as absolute pre-conditions? If they share our sensitivities over these issues, what do they think about our opportunities to develop a more realistic and healthier perspective by discussing these issues with the EU in a frank and sincere atmosphere? Do they think that we can perceive the EU to set a date for beginning of full membership negotiations? We have been so far told that these were the sine qua non conditions, and that they were not open to any discussion. Do our political parties share this?'' he told reporters.
Bahceli added, ''if our political parties think that we do not have such a chance of perceiving the EU and that we should absolutely fulfill these four issues, it is inevitable to well-assess the current situation and draw some necessary conclusions.''
BAHCELI: MHP WILL NOT BE A PARTNER IN INITIATIVES OF OTHER POLITICAL PARTIES AIMING TO FORM A COMMON POLITICAL PLATFORM
Bahceli said that political parties represented at the parliament except his party would need to form a common political platform.
Bahceli said, ''however, MHP will not be a partner in these initiatives. It will not take part in these processes. Similarly, it will not take part in inter-party joint initiatives in the parliament on these issues. It will use against votes and assume an attitude.''
If the other political parties thought that there was not any other remedy than making the arrangements imposed as a precondition and took decisions in that sense and if they believed those arrangements were useful for Turkey, they would be ready to pave the way for a new governmental formation, Bahceli stated.
Bahceli noted that he wanted to make some proposals to overcome this situation.
''Under a common evaluation of political parties except us, there is need for exerting concerted efforts to turn these four issues into an action plan and take decisions at the parliament in this sense. To this end, the political parties except MHP would have to form a common political platform at the parliament to achieve this goal,'' Bahceli said.
Bahceli noted, ''however, an important issue will occur then. MHP will not be a part of these common initiatives. It will not take part in these processes. Similarly, it will not take part in inter-party joint initiatives in the parliament on these issues. It will use against votes and assume an attitude.''
''It is clear that it would yield some political results inevitably. Any dispute among coalition partners sharing the responsibility of government on these main issues will not be a normal situation in regard to political ethic and political realities. If other political parties are in agreement to act together on these four issues, then it will be appropriate to form a new government that will have the necessary political will and support. The new government will have the necessary majority to adopt these laws against 127 deputies of the MHP. The MHP is the name of a mission giving prioritly to benefits of the Turkish state and nation. We will not hesitate to stand behind the issues that will serve benefits of Turkey. However, we will not be in a position to block Turkey's way. The MHP does not have an ambition to protect its place in the government,'' he emphasized.
Bahceli told reporters, ''if other political parties think that there is no other way except for fulfilling these four issues and that it will be beneficial for Turkey, we are ready to pave way for formation of a new government. If there is the opportunity for formation of such a government, and there is the necessary political will and support, we wish it to be beneficial for Turkey.''
BAHCELI: HE OBSERVED PARTICIPATING PARTIES AGREED TO ACCEPT PRECONDITIONS PRESENTED TO TURKEY
Bahceli answered reporters' questions after a press conference on Friday.
Below are the questions and answers from the meeting.
Question: Would the MHP withdraw from the government if the four political parties agree on the four issues that you listed.
Bahceli: We say that because we believe that a government formed by parties agree to accept these preconditions, could work more efficiently.
Question: Would you give vote of confidence to such a government?
Bahceli: You are very impatient.
Question: Could other parties answer your questions?
Bahceli: This is the conclusion I drew from the leaders meeting. Except for the MHP, the political parties who participated in the summit had an agreement on the issues that are presented to Turkey as a precondition. This is what I observed.
Question: It is said that the government is keeping the capital punishment file in the Prime Ministry. There are claims that the MHP is making investments for elections from what you said today.
Bahceli: This is very wrong. Neither us nor you should pay any attention to those claims.
Question: The Ministers Council will convene under your chairmanship on Monday. Did the prime ministers ask you to do this? Did you talk to him about this?
Bahceli: Husamettin Ozkan told me this. They asked me if I could do it and I said I could.
Question: Does that mean that you are assuming the duties of the prime minister?
Bahceli:No. We always say that. Our prime minister is at his residence because of health problems but he is in charge and he is the head of the government. He is also coordinating the government through our contacts.
Question: The prime minister cannot attend the meetings and you are saying that you can withdraw. Isn't this government going to last?
Bahceli: If there is an agreement in Parliament on the preconditions imposed on Turkey, we are ready to make any sacrifice.
Question: Would that be an early election government?
Bahceli: It is the prime minister who will decide whether the government should dissolve or not. We say this as unfair criticisms directed at us saying that we have been blocking Turkey's EU membership. We are not blocking their road. If they want to do it, they can.
Question: Aren't you going to block it if you withdraw from the government?
Bahceli: No. If we had the necessary majority in Parliament, we would resolve these problems without dragging Turkey to this point. We have 127 deputies and there are 550 deputies in Parliament. The existing political parties have an agreement on these preconditions. Therefore they can continue their efforts.
Question: Did you talk with the prime minister before you made these statements?
Bahceli: No, I didn't.
Question: As you made the same statement during the summit meeting, why was the joint statement on which five leaders reached a consensus released?
Bahceli: It was the right thing. A statement must be released after such meetings. If it is carefully observed, it is seen that both the final statement and we say that those pre-conditions or legal adjustments regarding accession to the EU should be resolved at the parliament.
Question: Do you want transfer of Ocalan's execution dossier to the parliament? A deputy from the MHP prepared a censure motion against the Prime Minister. Will you back it?
Bahceli: Such an attitude of MHP deputy does not bind the MHP. Its his own initiative.
Question: You say that other four parties take those steps if they could reach an agreement. What kind of a position will the MHP adopt if they make those arrangements through compromise? Will you withdraw from the coalition?
Bahceli: I suppose you can't draw a conclusion from what I have said.
Question: Didn't you ask these questions also to the leaders?
Bahceli: Of course, I asked and they made statements. All of them were noted down in state records as minutes. However, I cannot make a statement on behalf of them.
Question: Did any argument occur at the meeting?
Bahceli: No. the meeting was held within a very calm atmosphere where all leaders expressed their opinions clearly. I think that this summit meeting constituted a good starting point for our country.
Question: We got news that there was a dialogue between you and your coalition partner Mesut Yilmaz...
Bahceli: No, there is not such a thing. Every party tried to clearly explain their opinions within the time limit. And we had the opportunity to learn everybody's opinions without any mediator which is very beneficial to our country.
Question: The Prime Minister could not attend the meeting. How did this affect the meeting?
Bahceli: Democratic Left Party's (DSP) representative was there. I wished the Prime Minister could have attended the meeting. I suppose that he was informed about the opinions expressed at the meeting.
Question: You tell your senior party officials to get ready for elections although you don's want early elections...
Bahceli: No. We are in favor of holding general elections on time, that is April of 2004.
Question: Should your withdrawal from the coalition government be perceived as a reaction to your coalition partner?
Bahceli: I recommend you to read once again what we have said. We express our opinions and some stages which we think beneficial to our country. We stress our sensitivities to these three pre-conditions and the Cyprus issue. We say that we won't join any joint initiative related to these matters.
Question: You proposed a solution to the capital punishment without the MHP: Why did you give up?
Bahceli: No, we did not give it up. We say that MHP's opinion about death sentence is clear. If our coalition partners reach a compromise with other political parties at the parliament on this issue and find the opportunity of passing it from the parliament, we will not make such an issuse a matter of government. If such efforts change into a habit of solving problems through compromise among our coalition partners and other parties at the parliament, then change of that photograph into photograph of a new government will be more beneficial to our country.
ANKARA (A.A) - 07.06.2002 - Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader and Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli has said that joining the EU was Turkey's main political goal and his party, MHP sincerely supports efforts to achieve this result.
Speaking at a press conference at his party's Balgat building on Friday, Bahceli said at the meeting political party leaders had the chance to express their views on a number of important matters that are on Turkey's agenda. He also criticized True Path Party (DYP) leader Tansu Ciller for not attending the meeting. He said that everything that was said during the meeting was recorded and Ciller missed an important opportunity by not coming to the meeting.
''Turkey's relations with the EU, our national sensitivities and the MHP's consistent and resolved attitude during Turkey's EU membership accession process were discussed at the summit,'' Bahceli said.
''Turkey is going through a critical time,'' he continued. ''We are all facing a historic responsibility. We have to hold Turkey's long term interests over everything. The EU membership is Turkey's main political goal. The MHP sincerely supports Turkey's EU membership. After Turkey became an EU member candidate at the Helsinki Summit, it took a number of very important steps including the preparation of the National Program. Most of the targets included in the National Program have been reached. The MHP had very important contributions to the implementation of these radical reforms. We have a clean conscience on this matter.''
BAHCELI: MHP WANTS TURKEY TO JOIN THE EU BY PRESERVING ITS NATIONAL UNITY AND INTEGRITY
Bahceli has said that his party continued to be faithful to the principles included in the National Program and added ''The MHP wishes Turkey to join the EU by preserving our national unity and integrity.''
He said that the MHP wanted Turkey to become an EU member without risking social peace and stability.
''Today, we are going through a very critical point regarding our relations with the EU,'' he said. It's very important that the EU should give Turkey a certain date during the Copenhagen Summit in December of this year. These demands which are imposed on Turkey as a precondition are the lifting of the death penalty and allowing education and broadcast in mother tongue. Later, the Cyprus issue will also be imposed on Turkey as a third issue.''
Bahceli said, ''EU intends to complete technical membership negotiations with the Greek Cypriot administration till the end of this month and accept Cyprus as full member in December 2002. This is obvious now. In such a condition, Turkey will be face to face with dilemma. In return for setting a date for Turkey's membership negotiations, below listed things will be demanded:
Either persuade Mr. Denktas by consenting to a solution of the Cyprus question in the direction of Greek-Greek Cypriot expectations or at least consent to the full membership of Cyprus before a political solution and don't put into practice the measures you had earlier announced to implement in such a condition.
MHP hopes to conclude our EU membership process by maintaining the fundamental qualities of the state, its unitary structure and national unity and solidarity. We sincerely want Turkey to become an EU member by undergoing a transformation process which will not harm its social structure and jeopardize internal peace, tranquility and stability.
MHP thinks that these three issues which have been brought in front of us as preconditions cannot be evaluated separately from the past and that they cannot be handled independently from the terrorism fact experienced in Turkey and the ongoing terrorism threat potential.
We think that the new politicization process of the terrorist organization and its strategy to reach their intentions by using the EU membership cannot be ignored. We also think that correct evaluation of the reality that the EU's demands overlap with PKK/KADEK's political platform is inevitable.''
Bahceli noted that all these were their sincere views and stated, ''to this end, it is not possible for MHP to accept the three issues that are tried to be imposed and the equation that occur related with Cyprus question in today's conjuncture.'' ''The MHP which has been fully supporting Turkey's EU full membership, has a different point of view at this point. Within this context, we are in a junction on the road. Being aware of our responsibilities, we want to learn views of leaders of other political parties on some main issues. Do political parties consider Turkey's fulfilling these four issues including Cyprus under all conditions as absolute pre-conditions? If they share our sensitivities over these issues, what do they think about our opportunities to develop a more realistic and healthier perspective by discussing these issues with the EU in a frank and sincere atmosphere? Do they think that we can perceive the EU to set a date for beginning of full membership negotiations? We have been so far told that these were the sine qua non conditions, and that they were not open to any discussion. Do our political parties share this?'' he told reporters.
Bahceli added, ''if our political parties think that we do not have such a chance of perceiving the EU and that we should absolutely fulfill these four issues, it is inevitable to well-assess the current situation and draw some necessary conclusions.''
BAHCELI: MHP WILL NOT BE A PARTNER IN INITIATIVES OF OTHER POLITICAL PARTIES AIMING TO FORM A COMMON POLITICAL PLATFORM
Bahceli said that political parties represented at the parliament except his party would need to form a common political platform.
Bahceli said, ''however, MHP will not be a partner in these initiatives. It will not take part in these processes. Similarly, it will not take part in inter-party joint initiatives in the parliament on these issues. It will use against votes and assume an attitude.''
If the other political parties thought that there was not any other remedy than making the arrangements imposed as a precondition and took decisions in that sense and if they believed those arrangements were useful for Turkey, they would be ready to pave the way for a new governmental formation, Bahceli stated.
Bahceli noted that he wanted to make some proposals to overcome this situation.
''Under a common evaluation of political parties except us, there is need for exerting concerted efforts to turn these four issues into an action plan and take decisions at the parliament in this sense. To this end, the political parties except MHP would have to form a common political platform at the parliament to achieve this goal,'' Bahceli said.
Bahceli noted, ''however, an important issue will occur then. MHP will not be a part of these common initiatives. It will not take part in these processes. Similarly, it will not take part in inter-party joint initiatives in the parliament on these issues. It will use against votes and assume an attitude.''
''It is clear that it would yield some political results inevitably. Any dispute among coalition partners sharing the responsibility of government on these main issues will not be a normal situation in regard to political ethic and political realities. If other political parties are in agreement to act together on these four issues, then it will be appropriate to form a new government that will have the necessary political will and support. The new government will have the necessary majority to adopt these laws against 127 deputies of the MHP. The MHP is the name of a mission giving prioritly to benefits of the Turkish state and nation. We will not hesitate to stand behind the issues that will serve benefits of Turkey. However, we will not be in a position to block Turkey's way. The MHP does not have an ambition to protect its place in the government,'' he emphasized.
Bahceli told reporters, ''if other political parties think that there is no other way except for fulfilling these four issues and that it will be beneficial for Turkey, we are ready to pave way for formation of a new government. If there is the opportunity for formation of such a government, and there is the necessary political will and support, we wish it to be beneficial for Turkey.''
BAHCELI: HE OBSERVED PARTICIPATING PARTIES AGREED TO ACCEPT PRECONDITIONS PRESENTED TO TURKEY
Bahceli answered reporters' questions after a press conference on Friday.
Below are the questions and answers from the meeting.
Question: Would the MHP withdraw from the government if the four political parties agree on the four issues that you listed.
Bahceli: We say that because we believe that a government formed by parties agree to accept these preconditions, could work more efficiently.
Question: Would you give vote of confidence to such a government?
Bahceli: You are very impatient.
Question: Could other parties answer your questions?
Bahceli: This is the conclusion I drew from the leaders meeting. Except for the MHP, the political parties who participated in the summit had an agreement on the issues that are presented to Turkey as a precondition. This is what I observed.
Question: It is said that the government is keeping the capital punishment file in the Prime Ministry. There are claims that the MHP is making investments for elections from what you said today.
Bahceli: This is very wrong. Neither us nor you should pay any attention to those claims.
Question: The Ministers Council will convene under your chairmanship on Monday. Did the prime ministers ask you to do this? Did you talk to him about this?
Bahceli: Husamettin Ozkan told me this. They asked me if I could do it and I said I could.
Question: Does that mean that you are assuming the duties of the prime minister?
Bahceli:No. We always say that. Our prime minister is at his residence because of health problems but he is in charge and he is the head of the government. He is also coordinating the government through our contacts.
Question: The prime minister cannot attend the meetings and you are saying that you can withdraw. Isn't this government going to last?
Bahceli: If there is an agreement in Parliament on the preconditions imposed on Turkey, we are ready to make any sacrifice.
Question: Would that be an early election government?
Bahceli: It is the prime minister who will decide whether the government should dissolve or not. We say this as unfair criticisms directed at us saying that we have been blocking Turkey's EU membership. We are not blocking their road. If they want to do it, they can.
Question: Aren't you going to block it if you withdraw from the government?
Bahceli: No. If we had the necessary majority in Parliament, we would resolve these problems without dragging Turkey to this point. We have 127 deputies and there are 550 deputies in Parliament. The existing political parties have an agreement on these preconditions. Therefore they can continue their efforts.
Question: Did you talk with the prime minister before you made these statements?
Bahceli: No, I didn't.
Question: As you made the same statement during the summit meeting, why was the joint statement on which five leaders reached a consensus released?
Bahceli: It was the right thing. A statement must be released after such meetings. If it is carefully observed, it is seen that both the final statement and we say that those pre-conditions or legal adjustments regarding accession to the EU should be resolved at the parliament.
Question: Do you want transfer of Ocalan's execution dossier to the parliament? A deputy from the MHP prepared a censure motion against the Prime Minister. Will you back it?
Bahceli: Such an attitude of MHP deputy does not bind the MHP. Its his own initiative.
Question: You say that other four parties take those steps if they could reach an agreement. What kind of a position will the MHP adopt if they make those arrangements through compromise? Will you withdraw from the coalition?
Bahceli: I suppose you can't draw a conclusion from what I have said.
Question: Didn't you ask these questions also to the leaders?
Bahceli: Of course, I asked and they made statements. All of them were noted down in state records as minutes. However, I cannot make a statement on behalf of them.
Question: Did any argument occur at the meeting?
Bahceli: No. the meeting was held within a very calm atmosphere where all leaders expressed their opinions clearly. I think that this summit meeting constituted a good starting point for our country.
Question: We got news that there was a dialogue between you and your coalition partner Mesut Yilmaz...
Bahceli: No, there is not such a thing. Every party tried to clearly explain their opinions within the time limit. And we had the opportunity to learn everybody's opinions without any mediator which is very beneficial to our country.
Question: The Prime Minister could not attend the meeting. How did this affect the meeting?
Bahceli: Democratic Left Party's (DSP) representative was there. I wished the Prime Minister could have attended the meeting. I suppose that he was informed about the opinions expressed at the meeting.
Question: You tell your senior party officials to get ready for elections although you don's want early elections...
Bahceli: No. We are in favor of holding general elections on time, that is April of 2004.
Question: Should your withdrawal from the coalition government be perceived as a reaction to your coalition partner?
Bahceli: I recommend you to read once again what we have said. We express our opinions and some stages which we think beneficial to our country. We stress our sensitivities to these three pre-conditions and the Cyprus issue. We say that we won't join any joint initiative related to these matters.
Question: You proposed a solution to the capital punishment without the MHP: Why did you give up?
Bahceli: No, we did not give it up. We say that MHP's opinion about death sentence is clear. If our coalition partners reach a compromise with other political parties at the parliament on this issue and find the opportunity of passing it from the parliament, we will not make such an issuse a matter of government. If such efforts change into a habit of solving problems through compromise among our coalition partners and other parties at the parliament, then change of that photograph into photograph of a new government will be more beneficial to our country.