Erdogan: We Did Not Take Up The Issue Of Appointment Of Prime Minister

ANKARA - Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday, ''during my meeting with President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, the issue of appointment of new prime minister was not brought onto agenda.''
Addressing journalists following the meeting, Erdogan said, ''we did not take up the issue of appointment of new prime minister. I suppose that the issue will be taken up after the Parliamentary Chairmanship Council is formed.''
When asked, ''your aides Abdulkadir Aksu and Vecdi Gonul and AK Party Secretary General Ertugrul Yalcinbayir were in attendance at the meeting. Can we consider them your candidates for the prime ministry?'' Erdogan said that he did not think about it yet.
Responding to another question, Erdogan said that President Sezer could designate them to form the new government after the Higher Election Board (YSK) announced the final results of the general elections.
When a reporter reminded that ''the United States made a statement about Cyprus question after their party presented a different model'', Erdogan said, ''every view was put forth after it has been discussed among us. There is nothing abnormal.''
Responding to a question, Erdogan said that he would attend the celebrations of anniversary of foundation of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).
When a reporter said that the statement about higher boards caused tension, Erdogan said, ''confidence has started to be built. If we are to start a saving period in public expenditures, we will start this from the Council of Ministers.''
Erdogan added, ''we think of decreasing the number of ministers to 25. What will this mean? It is meaningless to keep active such boards if they are not functional because they are a burden on the economy.''
''But we will do that in a certain period of time without causing any damage to our country in line with our principle of saving in public expenditures,'' he said.
When a journalist asked about the new government's approach if no date is taken from Copenhagen summit, Erdogan stressed that the aim is to get a result from the summit on Dec. 12. Erdogan noted that they will do their utmost for getting a date from Copenhagen summit.
Erdogan said that ''yet Dec. 12 is not an end. There are advantages of Copenhagen criteria, the latter will develop the living standards of our people. These are the things which we must do even if they don't admit us to EU.''
Erdogan said that President Sezer is positive for another meeting if they demand it after their meeting with Central Executive Board and the deputies.
Meanwhile Erdogan did not respond to the question of a reporter asking his view about the statement of AK Party member Koksal Toptan who said Erdogan can be appointed as prime minister by changing the Constitution.
Upon a question on Cyprus issue, Erdogan said that they were not warned about Cyprus.