KAYSERI - Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said on Saturday, ''we should narrow the state, and scrutinize its functions.''
Prime Minister Gul visited Garrison Commander General Hindal Cekic and Mayor Mehmet Ozhaseki of central province of Kayseri.
Speaking at the meetings, Prime Minister Gul said, ''a new era has begun in Turkey, and this new era is political power of the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) alone. The general elections on November 3, 2002 constituted a turning point in Turkish political history. As soon as the new government has begun its work, it faced important issues such as Turkey's European Union (EU) full membership process, the Cyprus question, developments about Iraq and economic problems of our people. Our primary target is to make a great transformation in Turkey. This transformation means finding solutions to long-standing problems of Turkey and increasing prosperity of our people. We have been defending that important reforms should be made to this end from the very beginning. I believe that we can achieve it. We are determined and well-prepared. For the first time in Turkish political history, a political party and a government presented a timetable to the people about its plans.''
''The AK Party government has succeeded in securing confidence of the markets. Before the general elections, interest rates were about 70 percent. The Treasury could not borrow money from domestic markets for more than five months. Now, interest rates decreased below 50 percent. A confidence has been secured. As a result, business world has revived. We have begun taking a series of measures to revive trade and industry,'' he said.
Prime Minister Gul noted, ''we have begun working on the Local Administrations Law. Also, we have prepared a series of reform packages. These packages will be taken up during meetings of the Council of Ministers. We attribute great importance to reconstruction of the state. Turkey has faced all these difficulties, because it was not ruled appropriately. Now, we should decrease spendings to rule our country in a better way. We should narrow the state, and scrutinize its functions. If we can achieve this, then our prosperity will begin to increase.''
''We submitted draft reform packages to the parliament to get a certain date from the EU. Our parliament worked even on holidays, and enacted these laws at one night. Our work and determination bewildered European leaders. Turkey will start accession talks with the EU in 2004. It means that foreign capital will increase in Turkey. Maybe some circles are not satisfied with our work, but we got a certain result at Copenhagen summit,'' he added.
GUL: ''NOW, OUR DUTY IS TO MAINTAIN ECONOMIC AND DEMOCRATIC REFORMS''
Speaking at the meeting, Prime Minister Gul said, ''we aim at developing Turkey. A new era has begun. Political instability has come to an end at last. We have a hard-working parliament and a determined and well-prepared government.''
Noting that Turkey's 40-year European Union (EU) adventure had been in uncertainty till Copenhagen summit, Prime Minister Gul said, ''we attended Copenhagen summit in which historical decisions were taken about the EU's enlargement process. During the summit, a certain decision was taken for opening of accession talks. Now, our duty is to maintain economic and democratic reforms, and to prepare our country for the EU full membership.''
''I believe that very important developments will occur in the coming 1-2 years. We are determined and well-prepared. We have an important majority at the parliament. Necessary laws will be adopted at the parliament rapidly,'' he said.
Later, Prime Minister Gul addressed people from balcony of Governor's Office.
''Everything is about to change in Turkey. Turkish nation made its preference in the general elections on November 3, 2002. They brought the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) to the political power. We will solve long-standing problems of Turkey. Our first priority is to increase living standards of our people of low income,'' he said.
GUL: ''WE CAN FINALIZE MANY THINGS IN 2003''
Gul said, ''a new era has begun in Turkey following the general elections on November 3, 2002. A single political party has come to the political power. It put an end to political instability in Turkey. We are planning to make important reforms in public sector. We are planning to hand over some authorities of the central authority to the local administrations. We will submit the draft law about this arrangement to the parliament till the end of this month.''
''Also, we will begin seeing results of expenditure reform in the coming days. Turkey cannot endure such a high amount of spending. It should be decreased as soon as possible. Turkey has spent its sources for unnecassary things so far,'' he said.
Prime Minister Gul stressed, ''we will further develop our country together with industrialists and businessmen. The state will not open factories any more. We will accelerate privatization. It is our duty to clear the way of businessmen. If there are millions of unemployed people in a country and 15 percent of this country's population live beneath poverty line, then we should encourage businessmen to open new business places. The greatest labor security is to employ the unemployed. One of our primary targets is opening of new business places. Therefore, we have decided to put an end to implementation of financial zero.''
''Our approving the EU adjustment laws in a short period of time bewildered European leaders. We had not finished our homework completely before Copenhagen summit. We have still some deficiencies. Now, we will remove all of them. We said 2004 at the summit, but we can finalize many things in 2003. When we fulfill all criteria, the EU will have to start accession talks with Turkey earlier,'' he added.