Meeting Between Erdogan And Baykal Ends

ANKARA - Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal said on Tuesday, ''we will contribute to solution of problems of our country with an understanding of good-will and constructive opposition.''
Baykal responded to questions of journalists following his meeting with Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
''A new period has begun in Turkey following the general elections on November 3. Also, politics has entered a new era. Only two political parties will have seats at the parliament after long years,'' he said.
Noting that the world had been monitoring the developments in Turkey, Baykal told reporters that many circles in the world were interested in the new political period in Turkey.
Recalling that he had paid a visit of courtesy to the AK Party, Baykal said, ''we congratulate AK Party leader Erdogan and his friends. We told them that we would contribute to solution of problems of our country with an understanding of good-will and constructive opposition.''
Pointing out that Turkey had been living through a difficult period, Baykal said, ''all political parties should act with mutual understanding and responsibility during this period.''
''This is a visit of courtesy. It is an initiative to show that we made a good will starting. Of course we will start like this, and we will continue to perform our duties within a democratic understanding. We will discuss problems of the country, we will speak, and we will critize the mistakes. We will be in an effort to carry out our duties. However, while starting this mission, we want to show that we begin a period within a democratic civilized approach basing on mutual human relations,'' Baykal said.
Baykal pointed out that, ''Turkey has many difficulties and problems. This requires the efforts and contribution of everybody. It is not necessary to increase the list of problems. Turkey already has some problems. We all have to undertake important duties in this respect. We should be careful not to incite unnecessary arguments and difficulties. We have shared our views in this respect, and we are pleased to see that AK Party leader and his friends have the same understanding. I hope we will continue this.''
Stating that they mentioned relations with the EU, Baykal said they briefly took up Turkey's foreign policy problems.
Baykal said as the CHP they would participate in European Social Democrat Party Leaders Meeting on November 14 in Poland, adding that they would express their ideas regarding Turkey's willingness to be an EU member.
Deniz Baykal said that ''our understanding is very clear, the EU membership issue of Turkey is not an issue of the government, it is the issue of Turkey. Turkey has the right to get a date from the EU to start full membership negotiations. We think that the EU has to do what is necessary for that as soon as possible. We clearly told this to date. We will also explain it on Nov. 14. We, as the opposition party, will do our mission for solution of all sorts of problems in line with the national interests of the country. We believe that what is good for Turkey is also good for all of us. It is good both for the opposition and for the government. We must try to solve the problems of Turkey and the basic principles of the Constitution.''
ERDOGAN: WE WILL TAKE NECESSARY STEPS TOGETHER WITH CHP PRIOR TO EU'S COPENHAGEN SUMMIT
Erdogan said, ''we have a short period of time before the European Union (EU) summit meeting in Copenhagen in December. We will take the necessary steps together with the Republican People's Party (CHP).''
Addressing journalists after his meeting with CHP leader Deniz Baykal, Erdogan said, ''Turkey has entered a new period. Besides advantages, there are also some disadvantages of AK Party's coming into power on its own. We will do our utmost to turn these disadvantages into advantages. We aim at preparing Turkey for the future in coordination with all other political parties and non-governmental organizations.''
Describing his meeting with Baykal as a good beginning, Erdogan wished that the current positive atmosphere would continue till the end.
Pointing out that inspection mechanisms should operate in a health way in a healthy state administration, Erdogan said democracy could reach a healthy structure in this case.
Erdogan said the problems created ''administration crisis'' within the structure so far, adding that, ''we should prepare a Turkey which leaps forward within solidarity and mutual aid.''
Stressing the importance of Copenhagen Summit that would take place on December 12 in Turkey's full membership process to the EU, Erdogan said the steps, which should jointly be taken with CHP, would be taken before the summit.
Erdogan said this issue was discussed during his meeting with Baykal, and noted that he would go to Warsaw, and recalled that he would visit the EU member countries related with those issues.
Pointing out that efforts would be underway to get a date from the EU to start full membership negotiations, Erdogan said, ''December 12 should yield in the necessary results, so that the next period could gain more importance.''
Erdogan said they contined efforts to found the government, and recalled that Central Executive Board of his party would convene today.
BAYKAL SAYS TWO PARTIES HAVE CLEAR AND COMMON UNDERSTANDING ABOUT EU ISSUE
Baykal said that they have a very clear and common understanding with Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan about the EU membership of Turkey.
Speaking to the press after their meeting, Erdogan and Baykal responded to questions of journalists.
When a reporter asked if a common draft would be prepared or not during the visit to EU countries, Baykal said that there was even no need to carry out a common work about the EU issue. Baykal said that there are new steps that need to be taken by Turkey in the EU membership process, adding that yet these steps should not be considered as a precondition by the EU for giving a negotiation date to Turkey.
''Certainly we will do our mission, we will contribute and we will extend support to AK Party about EU issue. Both parties have clear and common understanding about the EU issue, this is getting a date from the EU to start full membership negotiations. This is the right of Turkey and we must persuade our EU member states about this issue,'' Baykal said.
When asked if there will be a representative from the CHP in the visits to EU member states, Erdogan said ''there is no need for that, but if there is we will certainly take such a step.''
When a reporter told the leaders ''why don't the two leaders go to EU member countries together?'' Erdogan said that ''let's take first the initial steps and if it is necessary, we will also do that.''
When asked whether or not they got an appointment from President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Erdogan said that they had not requested an appointment from President Sezer yet.
Responding a question, Baykal said that issue of lifting political bans was not brought onto agenda during the meeting.
Responding another question about the Cyprus issue, Baykal said that both the AK Party and the CHP had similar views about the Cyprus question.