Sezer Says Their Priority Should Be Taking Pains To Make Politics In Compliance With Laws And Rules

ANKARA - President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said on Sunday that their priority should be taking pains to make politics in compliance with laws and rules by refraining from arrangements peculiar to a person which did not bind with democratic and legal state principles instead of politicizing laws.
A meeting was held in Turkish Language Authority to commemorate Ataturk, the Founder of Modern Turkish Republic, on the 64th anniversary of his demise.
Speaking at the meeting, Sezer said that they were commemorating Ataturk with repect and missing him.
The common voice in every part of the country on the anniversary of the demise of Ataturk was the most important indicator of the guarantee that the Republic would be protected and transferred to forthcoming generations and the determination of citizens about this issue, Sezer stressed.
Pointing out that Ataturk took his place among unforgettable important personalities in the world, Sezer said, ''there are a few leaders who are respected and praised this much. As Turkish nation, we also appreciate and we are proud of our Great Leader.''
Sezer stated that Ataturk founded a modern state taking national sovereignty as a basis and showed that what could be achieved when independence and sovereignty of the nation was in question.
Giant step forwards made in economic, political, social and cultural areas after the foundation of the Republic accelerated Turkey's integration process with the modern world, Sezer pointed out.
Sezer said that Ataturk's reforms played a determining role in forming a secular state and legal system and reaching the target of ''modern state, modern society and modern citizen.''
Touching on secularism, Sezer said, ''in Kemalist thought, secularism is considered as not only separation of religious and state affairs but also as the garantee of liberties, and in this sense the guarantee of freedom of belief and worship. Settlement of secularism principle ensured development of democracy and growing up generations having a free mentality, view and conscience. Being a modern and civil society can be possible by adopting secularism in every field of life and to turn this into a life style.''
Sezer noted, ''on one hand efforts continue to achieve this goal on the other hand, I would like to stress that we will stand against, with determination, all moves aiming to deteriorate democratic and secular republic and remove all modern acquisitions gained during the Republic days. Sensitivity of our citizens as well as the sensitivity of the state is of vital importance for protection of the social order, the groundwork of which is laid by the republic.''
''Great Leader Ataturk showed continuation of modernization efforts as a target of Turkish society to reach brilliant future and make Turkey a strong country open to renewals and change and foresaw key of success as wisdom, logic and science. As Turkish nation, we have to teach our children and young people life, basic elements of thought system and all aspects of principles and reforms of our Great Leader and prepare young generations for a future with a modern education in line with the requirements of Kemalist thought,'' Sezer said.
Sezer noted, ''what we have to do as a nation is to understand Ataturk and his biggest work Republic, protect the basic features and acquisitions of the Republic in every condition, adopt Kemalist thought, and make Turkey take its place among strong democratic countries.''
Stressing that to achieve those targets, developments in the world should be closely followed, Sezer said, ''we have to renew ourselves according to modern transformations, accelerate our development in legal state, democratization and human rights, and exert efforts to increase welfare and happiness of our people.''
''Turkish people will continue efforts to reach targets shown by Ataturk, protect democratic and secular Republic and the Republic will exist till eternity with all its institutions and rules. Kemalist thought and Ataturk's reforms and principles will continue to illuminate our path. The unreachable place of Great Leader Ataturk in our hearts will never change,'' Sezer added.
Constitutional Court Chairman Mustafa Bumin, Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader and Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli, Justice Minister Aysel Celikel, National Defense Minister Sabahattin Cakmakoglu, National Education Minister Necdet Tekin, Health Minister Osman Durmus, Public Works and Housing Minister Abdulkadir Akcan, Nationas Security Council (NSC) Secretary General Tuncer Kilinc and Ankara Governor Yahya Gur were in attendance at the meeting.