Yakis: Agreement Reached In Principle On Military And Political Issues

ANKARA - Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis said on Tuesday that agreement was reached in principle on military and political issues in the ongoing negotiations with the United States.
Replying to questions of reporters, Yakis noted that a few economic issues could not yet been solved.
Yakis said that the government would not be in a mood to mortgage the parliament.
''The government submits something to parliament and then, parliamentary process starts. The same procedure will also be valid for this issue. The government will not control things,'' said Yakis.
Asked about the difference of opinion in the Council of Ministers regarding the motion, Yakis said that it could not be considered a ''discussion'' and noted, ''the Council of Ministers is not an institution which makes a program and asks everybody to repeat it. Every member has his own view and everybody contributes to a decision with his own view.''
When asked if a final deal was made in ongoing negotiations with the United States, Yakis said that an agreement was reached in principle on military and political issues and they were almost finalizing the memorandum of understanding.
''There were still a few economic issues left to be discussed,'' noted Yakis.
Asked if sending the motion to parliament depended on those issues, Yakis said, ''there is not such legal obligation. The government can submit the motion. But, we should know what we have negotiated and where we are standing when we bring the issue to parliament. We are trying to know where we have reached so that we can reply to possible questions of parliament.''
A written compromise was an issue concerning the government, Yakis pointed out. He said that it was not a legal obligation.
When he was reminded about the words of Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan who said that ''it was not possible to send the motion to parliament without a compromise'', Yakis said, ''some disputes can occur if the parliament asks about the stage of negotiations and if we cannot show any written document although we say everything in words. This is what Erdogan wants to say.''
Asked if presentation of the motion to parliament that week was difficult, Yakis said, ''it can be submitted today if all members of the Council of Ministers sign it.''
(BRC-AÖ) 25.02.2003