Yilmaz: Dervis' Decision To Maintain His Duty In The Government Is A Positive Development

BRUSSELS/ISTANBUL (A.A) - 12.07.2002 - State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz, who also acts as leader of the Motherland Party (ANAP), said on Friday, ''decision of State Minister Kemal Dervis for Economy to maintain his duty at the government is a positive development in regard to protection of economic stability in Turkey.''
Yilmaz who is currently in Brussels to attend the European Convention meetings, responded questions of journalists through video-conference system.
''Mr. Dervis' decision to maintain his duty at the government is a positive development in regard to protection of economic stability in Turkey. Earlier in the week, I met with State Minister Dervis, and I expressed my concerns that hes resignation could affect the economy negatively. I said that such a development could lead foreign circles to think that Turkey could give up economic programme,'' he added.
YILMAZ: WE WILL GIVE PRIORITY TO FULFILLMENT OF NATIONAL PROGRAMME'S COMMITMENTS BEFORE DECEMBER
When asked, ''if the government decides to withdraw, what will be your strategy? Will you take place in the new government to be formed by the new formation, and the True Path Party (DYP)? You said earlier that you would give priority to adjustment laws with the European Union (EU). What will be your attitude about adopting these laws with this government? Is this new formation possible?'' Yilmaz said, ''as I said before, the ANAP's most important priority is to accelerate Turkey's integration process with the EU. As you know, Turkey has been standing on an extremely important turning point in its relations with the EU. The EU will take the most important decisions of its history about its enlargement during the summit meeting to be held in Copenhagen in December. Turkey's exclusion due to developments in domestic policy will cause serious consequences. Therefore, we consider recording progress in our relations with the EU and completing the reform process in Turkey the most important missions. The ANAP will be positive about all formations that will make contribution to fulfillment of these missions.''
When asked, ''it is understood that a government including the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) will not fulfill the necessary criteria of the EU. As long as the MHP stays in the government, the EU criteria will not be fulfilled whether you take part in the government or not. Do you plan to withdraw from the government?'' Yilmaz said, ''this government can maintain its existence as an election government under the light of recent political developments. We informed both public opinion and our coalition partners on the ANAP's plan to reach compromise with opposition parties having seats at the parliament in order to adopt these laws, and to launch initiatives to call the parliament to hold an extraordinary meeting. According to our point of view, approval of these laws are more important for us than government matters.''
Yilmaz said, ''the most important thing that will give a direction to our attitude toward both new government formulas and date of early elections in coming period will be fulfillment of the national programme's commitments before December on path to the EU.''
When recalled of postponement of EU Commission Chairman Romano Prodi's visit to Turkey and asked what kind of steps should be taken in coming period and how long the political uncertainty would continue, Yilmaz said that Prodi's visit would be first visit of an EU Commission chairman to Turkey.
Noting that decision on postponement of Prodi's visit had been taken jointly by Turkish government and EU Commission, Yilmaz said, ''also we attributed great important to this visit during which we would have the opportunity of making a joint assessment before the Copenhagen Summit. However, as you know that recent political developments in Turkey prevented us from adopting some legal arrangements that we wanted to carry out before this visit. So I suppose that it would be much more beneficial if the parliament convenes in an extraordinary session in August and passes those arrangements and if Mr. Prodi pays a visit to Turkey in September or October. Actually such a consensus has been reached with the EU Commission. I suppose that this visit would take place in September or October. The important thing is this visit will provide the opportunity of making a joint assessment before the summit meeting in December.''
When asked how the recent political atmosphere in Turkey was reflected in the meetings he held in Brussels, Yilmaz said, ''I observed that the political crisis in Turkey created a new opportunity regarding Turkey's relations with the EU. First of all, Turkey has become the focus of interest. Secondly, the common opinion in the EU is that political developments in Turkey would constitute an opportunity regarding removal of obstacles in front of Turkey's integration with the EU.''