ANKARA - Democratic Left Party (DSP) leader and Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said on Saturday regarding the issue of ''secret fund'' that ''in fact the issue has been closed.''
Ecevit said in the ceremony held the same day upon Vural Savas's joining DSP that they would start village city project in Dorutay village of eastern Van province on Sunday.
Noting that separatist terrorism has totally ended and head terrorist Abdullah Ocalan was captured during his government, Ecevit said that ''a very important fight was carried out against separatist terrorism. Now we launch efforts for development of southeastern and eastern Turkey. Families who left their villages due to terrorism started to return back to their villages. The importance of village city project has gained importance for this region.''
When a journalist asked Ecevit's view about the tough statements of certain groups in Northern Iraq against Turkey, Ecevit said that ''these statements particularly come from Barzani. In fact they should not be taken up seriously, but we can't stay indifferent. We will certainly give the necessary response to these groups particularly the group headed by Barzani but without causing chaos or causing a political movement in our region. I believe that we can ensure peace in that region. The statements of Barzani are very shameful and improper. Kurds in Northern Iraq live in peace for years under the protection of Turkey and Turkish nation. But particularly the Barzani group does not show necessary concern for the Turkmens in Northern Iraq. We will take the necessary measures.''
When reminded about the call of CHP leader Deniz Baykal to DSP and YTP, Ecevit said that Baykal does not in fact make a call to them, but ''he wants us to close our parties and join CHP.''
Ecevit said that the call of Deniz Baykal who invited him to come and join CHP and give up politics in CHP is also very improper. ''We don't take these calls seriously and we continue on our way,'' he added.
Upon another question related to the ''secret fund'', Ecevit said that he did not want to speak much about that issue. Ecevit said that all public opinon knew that ''secret fund'' was used honestly.
Ecevit replied to the question, ''there are news stories that U.S. President George W. Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair came together to discuss the Iraq issue in the United States. Is there a special demand on Iraq issue from Turkey or what are the latest developments about the issue?'', by saying the following: ''the current U.S. government could not reach a clear view about Iraq issue. United States is an open society and this openness is also seen in the government. Some people in the U.S. government find accurate a possible military operation against Iraq and some of them don't. We act very carefully on that issue. We don't want to have contradiction with the USA and we don't want a war in our region, either.''
Ecevit said that he had a very important demand from the United States and added that the United States should establish a dialogue with Turkey before it took a step related to Iraq. He stressed that Turkey was a country which was mostly interested in the Iraqi issue.
Upon a question related to the decision which was taken on the criminal record of Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Ecevit said that this was a legal issue and they were always respectful to the decisions of law.