VAN - Prime Minister and Democratic Left Party (DSP) leader Bulent Ecevit said on Sunday that tricks were played against his party and himself in the last one-two years.
Addressing people in eastern Van province, Ecevit said that ''fortunately emergency rule has been lifted in many provinces except Diyarbakýr and Sirnak. Measures will be taken in the region to speed up investments.''
Noting that citizens who left their villages due to terrorism, started to return back, Ecevit said that citizens who suffered significantly from terrorism in eastern and southeastern Turkey, started to deal with agriculture and animal husbandry.
Ecevit said that his party started various studies to solve the problems of villagers, showing village-city project as an example.
Giving detailed information about village-city project, Ecevit said that the first implementation of the project started in Mesudiye town of northern Ordu province. The second one is Dorutay village-city in Ozalp town of Van, he said adding that ''villages of Turkey will be just like cities in short time with this project.''
Ecevit said that the border trade in Van started in a considerable extent despite certain problems.
Noting that the government adopted many laws during its 3,5 years in power, Ecevit said that the inflation started to end recently.
Ecevit stressed that there has been a significant increase in the number of tourists who visit Van.
Ecevit underlined that the EU doors also started to open to Turkey during his government, adding that ''our relations with the EU will further develop.''
Referring to the tricks played against his party and himself, Ecevit said that ''I am fine now, but this does not mean that I will be the leader of DSP forever. All of us are mortal. But I will continue to work for my country.''
Tight security measures were taken during the public meeting.