Ecevit: Yilmaz Told Me Early Elections Should Be Given Up

ANKARA - Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said on Wednesday that during their meeting on Tuesday, Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz told him that early elections should be given up.
Ecevit responded to the questions of reporters in Democratic Left Party (DSP) headquarters.
Question: Mr. Yilmaz made a statement on Tuesday night. He said, ''there are two ways to take Turkey to the EU. One of them is the withdrawal of Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) from government, or else the establishment of a broad-based government supporting Turkey's accession to the EU. What are your views?
Ecevit: I think this issue will be discussed more. However, the important thing is what would happen to the election. If proposal of Mesut Yilmaz is accepted, and if we are to withdraw from election, everything will be upside down. Changing the election date when there is only 1,5 months will have many drawbacks. It will require great expense. Anyway, Mr. Yilmaz, during our meeting yesterday, told me that early elections should be given up. This was not reflected. If we are to withdraw from elections within 1,5 months, what kind of a new government will be established after this?
Question: Has Yilmaz given you a scheduled program? Did he propose you a time to postpone the elections?
Ecevit: He says elections may be postponed. I mean he said, ''postponement of elections may become obligatory''. I asked what time could it take place, he said it could take place till April. This is a complicated situation. However, I think that elections will take place in time before making a change. It is difficult to even imagine something else.
ECEVIT: ''IN CASE ANAP WITHDRAWS, AS LONG AS THERE IS CONFIDENCE IN US, WE WILL CARRY OUT AFFAIRS ON OUR OWN AS MUCH AS WE CAN AS THE MINORITY GOVERNMENT''
Question: What do you think about the course of the government? If ANAP withdraws from the government today, will the government be able to continue as a minority government?
Ecevit: It gets very hard. Nonetheless, everything can be done when necessary. As the minority government, we are in an effort to carry out state affairs healthily. For example positive developments are recorded in economy. On the other side, negative things also happen. However, as long as there is confidence in us as the minority government, we will carry out state affairs on our own as much as we can. It is under the discretion of the Parliament.
Question: What response have you given to the proposal to hold elections in April?
Ecevit: I told him that giving up elections at the time being would create very difficult problems that can not be solved. We have not given a definite decision. I convened our authorized organs.
Question: Is it only the matter of the EU or the initiative of the parties having the fear of not passing the threshold.
Ecevit: Absolutely not related with the EU. The EU will continue in any case. There is the support of whole nation after our EU membership. I don't have any concerns in this respect. There may be discussions on this issue but there is no reason for us to deviate from EU full membership.