ANKARA - Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, who also acts as the leader of the Democratic Left Party (DSP), said on Thursday that Turkey could not accept an interim formula regarded with the European Union (EU) issue.
Ecevit held a news conference in DSP headquarters and responded to the questions.
When a journalist said, ''Mesut Yilmaz, following his contacts in Brussels, said a conditional negotiation timetable can be given to Turkey,'' and asked if such a proposal could be accepted, Ecevit said, ''no. Turkey can not accept an interim formula. Turkey will of course have the rights which the other EU candidate countries have.''
Responding to a question when DSP Convention would take place, Ecevit said this would take some time, and that he and his wife Rahsan would continue to work till that time.
When asked if there was a name which he wanted to lead the party after him, Ecevit said, ''no. I even don't find it appropriate to think.''
Responding to a question about the visit of the U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan's Cyprus Special Envoy Alvaro De Soto to Turkey, Ecevit said Turkey's general attitude regarded with Cyprus would not change.
When asked that Russia gave a note to Turkey regarded with the theater raid of Chechens in Moscow, Ecevit said Russian intelligence services contacted with the Turkish intelligence units immediately after the incident and they said there was not any connection with Turkey.