Ildem: President Sezer Believes That Holding Elections On November, Would Be Beneficial

ANKARA - Presidential Foreign Affairs Chief Adviser Tacan Ildem said on Friday, ''President Ahmet Necdet Sezer believes that holding the elections on November 3 would be beneficial.''
Speaking at the weekly press briefing at the Cankaya Presidential Palace, Ildem said, ''the parliament has taken a decision to hold the early elections on November 3, 2002, with a majority of vote. President Sezer believes that holding the elections on November 3 would be beneficial.''
''President Sezer does not think that Higher Election Board's (YSK) rejecting candidacies of some politicians including Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan would cause difficulties prior to the summit meeting of the European Union (EU) in Copenhagen. President Sezer thinks that the EU should be respectful to these issues,'' he said.
Ildem told reporters, ''as the parliament has decided to hold the early elections, President Sezer will not attend the beginning of the new legislative year on October 1.''
ILDEM: ''PRESIDENT SEZER IS CONCERNED ABOUT SIEGE OF PALESTINIAN PRESIDENT ARAFAT'S COMPOUND''
Ildem said, ''President Sezer has been monitoring recent developments in the Middle East. He expressed his profound sorrow and concerns about siege of Palestinian President Yasser Arafat's compound.''
Recalling that Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit had held a telephone conversation with President Arafat, Ildem said, ''President Sezer wants creation of an atmosphere in which the peace negotiations between Israel and Palestine will be resumed. He also wants acts of violence in the region to come to end as soon as possible. Turkey is ready to do its utmost. On numerous occasions, we noted that we were ready to host a conference. The siege of President Arafat's compound will not make any contribution to solution of the Middle East dispute. On the contrary, it will increase the lack of confidence between the two side.''
Referring to the resolution of the United Nations Security Council no: 1435, Ildem said, ''the sides should fulfill their responsibilities in line with this resolution.''
Ildem noted, ''President Sezer will host the Seventh Summit Meeting of Heads of State and Government of Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) in Istanbul on October 14. President Sezer will hold bilateral contacts with heads of state within the framework of the summit.''
Responding a question about recent developments in Northern Iraq, Ildem said, ''Turkey's policy about Iraq has not been changed. Principles of this policy are still valid. Turkey attributes great importance to protection of territorial integrity and political unity of Iraq. Turkey believes that the future of Iraq could be determined only by the groups in Iraq. In past, we had set close contacts and cooperation with different groups in Northern Iraq. We wish that any of these groups will not impose impositions on others. We hope that they would act with common-sense.''
Responding a question about Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz's visit to Turkey, Ildem said, ''Mr. Aziz will pay a visit to Turkey between September 30 and October 1. Aziz will meet with Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit. On October 1, President Sezer will receive Aziz.''
''Contacts of Mr. Aziz in Ankara will constitute an important opportunity for us to learn Iraqi administration's attitude about recent developments, and to reiterate that Turkey attributed great importance to territorial integrity and political unity of Iraq,'' he added.