Ecevit: We'll Do Our Best For Adoption Of E.U. Laws

ANKARA (A.A) - 27.07.2002 - Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said on Saturday that the EU adjustment laws have to be adopted, adding that ''we'll do our best for adoption of them.''
Ecevit had a meeting with ministers from Democratic Left Party (DSP), DSP group deputy leaders and party administrators.
After the meeting Ecevit told reporters that they particularly assessed the early elections in the meeting. Ecevit noted that they also took up the things that can be done for adoption of EU adjustment laws, bills related to judicial reform and negative effects of early elections on the economy.
Ecevit said that they also evaluated the bills related to the press and the suffrage of electors living abroad, adding ''the suffrage of citizens living abroad is ignored for years. We always tell that the law on the issue will be adopted and our citizens will cast votes. But early elections come to agenda and no legislative work can be done on the issue. We focused on that issue. The inspection of election expenses is also very important. There are serious complaints on the issue. We must prepare a law. We also discussed the expectations of workers and business circles. We carried out work about the flood disaster. Therefore we had a very productive meeting.''
Ecevit said that the DSP parliamentary group would convene on Monday and he will listen to the view of the group in that meeting.
Responding to questions, Ecevit said that his party would try its best to pass the EU adjustment laws.
Ecevit also said within group meetings, they hadn't discussed the situation of State Minister Kemal Dervis. When asked if Dervis would join the New Turkey Party as Ozkan recently stated, Ecevit said ''this wasn't his concern.''
When asked what he would do in order to replace Dervis in case of his resignation, Ecevit said it was too early to think about that.
Answering a question about a possible U.S. operation against Iraq, Ecevit said the Turkish government didn't recently receive any new information about this issue. ''But as you know the U.S. administration looks determined to launch an operation against Iraq. However, it looks like they haven't yet made a comprehensive and serious planning about it. We have certain concerns about an operation against Iraq and we continue to inform the U.S. government about our worries.''
Ecevit also added that he would attend the Higher Military Board meeting.