Ecevit Says As Coalition Partners, They Served Turkey In A Great Way

ANKARA (A.A) - 20.07.2002 - Prime Minister and Democratic Left Party (DSP) leader Bulent Ecevit said on Saturday, ''we prefer holding elections next year to this year. But the most appropriate thing is to hold elections on time, that is, in April of 2004. As coalition partners, we have served Turkey in a great way. We have launched important initiatives. However, we will hold early elections before putting into practice some of them appropriately. It will not be beneficial for Turkey.''
Responding questions of journalists following the meeting of DSP Assembly, Prime Minister Ecevit said that Suleyman Yagiz was appointed as new secretary general of the DSP.
Recalling that the 28th anniversary of the Cyprus Peace Operation, Prime Minister Ecevit said, ''the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) will exist as long as Turkey exists. We cannot make any concessions from the TRNC. As you know, direct talks process has been continuing between President Rauf Denktas of the TRNC and Greek Cypriot leader Glafcos Clerides. However, the sides could not reach a conclusion yet. According to my view, their reaching a compromise is impossible. Because, the Greek Cypriot side will not make any concessions as long as the European Union (EU) continues to support it. It will not be a serious loss anyway. If the Greek Cypriot side wants, it can become a full member of the EU on its own. In that case, the unification between Turkey and the TRNC will accelerate.''
''An intense campaign has been launched against the DSP for a long time. This campaign has been accelerated recently during my illness. In such an atmosphere, some deputies resigned from the DSP. I have nothing to say about it. I am hopeful about future of Turkey and the DSP. The DSP will prepare itself for the elections. We can get a better result in this elections,'' he said.
Responding a question, Prime Minister Ecevit said, ''during today's meeting of DSP Assembly, some our friends said that it was not appropriate to hold elections this year. They defend that elections should be held next year or in April of 2004. It will be more beneficial.''
''Meanwhile, there are initiatives for foundation of many new political parties. And they can have powerful positions until general elections if early election is not held. So they should not be deprived of this right,'' he said.
''We prefer holding elections not this year but at a date next year. Even the most appropriate is to hold general elections on time, that is, April of 2004. The decision we took today is that our group officials will meet with representatives of other political parties in the parliament and get their demands about election date in detail. In this way, we think that we would reach a more appropriate decision in terms of democracy. Beginning today, my friends will start fulfilling this duty. We trust our party, organization and DSP members whenever election is held,'' Ecevit said.
When asked whether or not he would propose a new election date to his government allies, Ecevit said that during the leaders' summit he had told his coalition government allies that he was against an early election in 2002 so he would consult to his party's high-level officials. Noting that the democratic process required this for political parties, Ecevit said, ''we did this today. We got opinions of our party assembly. And we will request opinions of other parties.''
When asked whether or not DSP Assembly was positive about holding early elections on November 3, Ecevit said, ''actually, DSP and party assembly is in favor of holding general elections on time, that is, April of 2004.''
Noting that they had given very important services and recorded great progress not only as DSP but also as the coalition government, Ecevit said, ''however, it would be against Turkey if we are caught by early elections before some of them are not implemented sufficiently. We need some more time to put our preparations into practice.''
''Actually we want general elections on time. But we do have self-confidence in an early election. And we think it beneficial to determine the opinions of newly founded political parties,'' he said.
When asked whether or not the coalition government would continue if a decision on an early elections at a more long term date was taken, Ecevit said, ''undoubtedly, it continues to be in charge, of course.''