Labour Platform Representatives Visit D.S.P.

ANKARA (A.A) - 28.07.2002 - State Minister Tayfun Icli said on Sunday that ''we have 65 deputies in the parliament as the Democratic Left Party (DSP), and in that respect we don't have the power to impede early elections.''
Bayram Meral, the Chairman of the Confederation of the Turkish Labour Unions (Turk-Is); Suleyman Celebi, the Chairman of the Confederation of Revolutionary Workers' Unions (DISK); Hak-Is Chairman Salim Uslu and Confederation of Public Workers Trade Unions (KESK) Chairman Sami Evren visited on behalf of the Labour Platform State Ministers Tayfun Icli, Zeki Sezer and Forestry Minister Nami Cagan and DSP administrators.
Meral said that they visit political parties and they want the job security bill to be taken up by the parliament when the parliament convenes.
Meral said that they had earlier met with Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit and Ecevit gave them hope about the adoption of the law, adding that it was not proper to hold early elections without undertaking certain regulations.
''We demand the Job Security law to be taken up together with the EU adjustment laws,'' said Meral and noted that if the law is adopted, neither business places will be closed nor unemployment will increase, as it is claimed.
Speaking on behalf of the DSP, State Minister Tayfun Icli said that Turkey passed through a very critical period and that necessitated the 57th government's need to stay in power.
Icli said that even if the early elections are held on November 3, important laws such as EU adjustment laws, suffrage of Turks living abroad, regulations which reflect the expectations of business world, press law, inspection of election expenses and judiciary reform have to be adopted.
''We believe that the steps taken in these areas will strengthen structural reforms,'' Icli continued. ''With this aim, we had a meeting here with the chairmenof Turk-Is, Hak-Is, DISK and KESK. The general situation of our country and the Job Security Law were the main topic of our meeitng. Job security has always been a priority for the DSP. However, these untimely early election discussions changed the party's program. The DSP doesn't think that it is right to hold early elections before we pass Job Security bill. The current job law doesn't cover members of press. We want to also include people who are employed in the press sector in this law.''
A reporter asked Icli to comment on Ecevit's efforts to prevent an early elections including a possible resignation. Icli said that they hadn't discussed this with the prime minister. ''During the leaders summit he had stated that early elections would bring harm more than good to Turkey but we have only 65 deputies and we don't have the power to prevent elections. We have said it before and we'll say it again. Early elections will cause damage to Turkey.''
Responding to another question, Icli said Parliament cannot work after taking the decion of early elections and this would weaken the chances of the passing of EU adjustment laws.