Ecevit: Turkey Has Been More Free, More Democratic And More European

ANKARA (A.A) - 04.08.2002 - Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said on Sunday, ''Turkey has been more free, more democratic and more European since yesterday morning. Now, Turkey expects the European Union (EU) to accept its full membership as soon as possible.''
Speaking at a news program on the state-run TRT-1 television channel, Prime Minister Ecevit said, ''as you now, our parliament has approved the EU reform package at the end of a long debate. Death penalty was lifted except for the 'crimes committed in times of war and situations of imminent war'. Criminals of terrorism will be sentenced to life imprisonment from now on. In Turkey, we can try terrorists who have taken shelter in European countries. Also, different languages and dialects including Kurdish will be used in TV and radio programs under control of the state.''
''The parliament has fulfilled one of its historical duties by broadening rights and freedoms. Turkey is more powerful and esteemed now. Of course, our national integrity and unity will be protected during use of these rights and freedoms,'' he said.
Prime Minister Ecevit noted, ''Turkey expected the EU to accept its full membership as soon as possible. Except for a few details, Turkey will have all freedoms and rights in a member country to the EU. Therefore, no one can say at this point that Turkey did not deserve the EU full membership.''
When asked whether or not election economy would be implemented in the early elections, Prime Minister Ecevit said, ''the 57th coalition government led by myself is very careful about this issue. We are trying to enable the economy to develop in a way which won't create problems in the future. I absolutely believe that our government will not give up this principle also during the election campaign. Because, consequences of this are very serious. Partners of this government want to come to power again after the elections, of course. And a healthier economy they will face will be more appropriate to and in favor of their and whole Turkey's interests. So I don't have any concern. An election economy won't be implemented.''
When asked what he thought about the Nationalist Movement Party's (MHP) decision on applying to the Constitutional Court regarding the EU reform package, Ecevit said he did not think it right to comment on decisions of their coalition ally.
Noting that they had reached a consensus on the point of MHP's showing tolerance to abolition of death penalty and relevant arrangements about human rights, Ecevit said, ''although they are our coalition partner, MHP told us that they would not appose to use of our own will except the coalition partners. So we welcome and appreciate this. Consequently, it is a democratic process. Our coalition partner has not raised an obstacle in front of different attitudes and positions of their allies, that are Democratic Left Party (DSP) and Motherland Party (ANAP), to an important issue. On my personal view, it has been a constructive attitude.''
When asked whether or not any obstacle might be raised during the coming process regarding Turkey's EU membership and what kind of decisions might be taken at the Copenhagen Summit on Turkey, Ecevit said, ''articles passed by the parliament cover all of these. Now it cannot be put forward that we do have deficiency regarding the Copenhagen criteria. All rights and freedoms which exist in developed EU countries regarding the freedom of press and media, language and dialects including Kurdish, associations do now exist in Turkey. They have been legalized also in Turkey. So nobody can criticize Turkey any more.''
ECEVIT: NOW, WALLS BETWEEN TURKEY AND EU WILL BE DESTROYED
Ecevit said, ''Turkey has been more free, more democratic and more European since yesterday morning. Now, the walls between Turkey and the European Union (EU) will be destroyed. Turkey's esteem in the western world has begun to increase.''
When asked whether or not Turkey would launch an initiative in the EU, Prime Minister Ecevit said, ''Turkey has been more free, more democratic and more European since yesterday morning. Now, the walls between Turkey and the EU will be removed. Turkey's esteem in the western world has begun to increase. We believe that we do not have any deficiency about the Copenhagen criteria. Our western friends will realize it when they examine the reform package in detail.''
''Turkey has fulfilled all requirements of the Copenhagen criteria. Now, it will put them into practice. No one has the right to put forward a negative claim against Turkey to this end,'' he said.
Responding a question about plan of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) to apply to the Constitutional Court for annulment of some articles of the reform package, Prime Minister Ecevit said, ''it is natural. It is their right to apply to the Constitutional Court.''