Cem Says They Are Forming Our New Political Party To Embrace Whole Turkey

ANKARA (A.A) - 12.07.2002 - Ismail Cem, who resigned as foreign minister and from the Democratic Left Party (DSP) yesterday, said on Friday that they were forming a political party that will be founded in social democracy principles and targeting embracing whole Turkey.
Cem held a news conference and briefed about the reasons of his resignation and this future plans.
Pointing out that expectations of people should be taken into consideration seriously in politics, Cem said people wanted security and stability and the entrepreneurs wanted to see their future.
''Freedom and democracy want seriousness and a clean administration,'' said Cem, reiterating that Turkey needed an influential administration.
Pointing out that they would set up a new political party, Cem said, ''Turkey needs an active administration. An active administration that will direct accumulation, knowledge and particularly the dynamism of youth to joint targets. An active administration which may attach importance to labor, confidence in entrepreneur, and which may implement very big projects in international arena.''
Cem said, ''we are forming our new political party to bring contribution of social democracy to the renovation process to be reached with compromise and with the togetherness of modern accumulations.''
Underlining the importance of the EU in the political life of Turkey, Cem said, ''the target of the EU full membership is a project of the social change. We have reached the starting point of full membership negotiations in five years. Turkey should not miss this opportunity. We are determined to take necessary steps. One of the most important factors of our political party and ruling program is Turkey's achieving its target of EU full membership and Turkey's fulfilling necessary political and economic criteria.''
CEM: THEY NEED A POLICY PRODUCING SOLUTION
Holding a press conference at the Journalists' Society, Cem informed press members on reasons of his resignation and on his plans for the future.
''It is clear that Turkey has been going through a difficult period. No one should take a decision about our future by assessing the current situation in Turkey. Turkey's power and accumulations are greater than its problems. It our target is to turn these accumulations into the power of the modern majority,'' he said.
Cem stressed, ''we need a policy producing solutions instead of problems. We have worked with Husamettin Ozkan for five years fruitfully. I believe that we will provide the same work now.''
Referring to State Minister Kemal Dervis for Economy, Cem said, ''we are respectful to requirements of current position of Mr. Dervis.''
CEM: MY RESIGNATION FROM FOREIGN MINISTRY AND DSP BASED ON SIMILAR REASONS
Ismail Cem said on Friday, ''my resignation from the Foreign Affairs Ministry and the Democratic Left Party (DSP) based on similar reasons.''
''The government has distanced itself from the ability to govern because of infighting. Political balance of the DSH has damaged. Turkey has reached the point where it cannot take the steps it needs to and cannot produce compromise and solution.''
''The DSP pioneered positive implementations in the past. However, the DSP lost its power to put into practice democratic leftist principles after a wrongful understanding of administration has become influential. Also, people's hope about the DSP's gaining this power again has waded away,'' he said.
Pointing out that he decided to form a new movement together with Husamettin Ozkan and State Minister for Economy Kemal Dervis, Cem said he worked with them in the same party for years, and that he has similar point of views with Dervis, and a friendship stemming from their youth. We continue together with Dervis and will continue together, but we appreciate the realities of his present position.''
Cem thanked to Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, former President Suleyman Demirel, deputy prime ministers and the General Staff for their support to him during his term in office as the foreign minister. He also expressed his gratitude to the foreign ministry personnel.