Erdogan: We Expect All States To Respect Our Concerns

ANKARA - Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan said while assessing the decision of the parliament about the prime ministry motion that ''the Turkish nation has historical reflexes and concerns which have to be taken into consideration by everybody.''
''It is our natural right to expect all states to respect our sensitivities,'' said Erdogan after the AK Party Central Decision Executive Board (MKYK) meeting.
Speaking to the reporters after the meeting, Erdogan summed up the efforts of Turkey regarding the Iraqi problem to date.
Erdogan remarked that Turkey put all of its power to prevent a war without ignoring the realities of the country and the world. Referring to the prime ministry motion, Erdogan said that they did everything that had to be done by a democratic administration.
It was told to them that they were more democratic when compared with the former administrations of Turkey, Erdogan said adding ''we are pleased for being democrat.''
''Iraqi issue came to the parliament with a motion. The parliament gave a decision on Saturday. Statements of those who only comment on results are not important. We know well on which way we are walking with and with which intention. Our party opened a very new page in Turkish policy tradition by functioning democracy principle in the party and not taking a group decision on that critical issue,'' Erdogan said.
Erdogan stated, ''expecting all states to respect our sensitivities is the most natural right of us. The decision the parliament took on Saturday put forth once again those sensitivities which Turkey expects to be respected by foreign friends. The duty of the government and all of us is to put into practice the requirements of this democratic choice.''
Stating that no one should not pay attention to speculations which would spoil economic stability, Erdogan said that atmosphere of confidence which AK Party formed should not be harmed.
Erdogan said that strategic partnership between Turkey and the United States was not established in one day and added that spoiling of this partnership in one day was out of question.
When asked whether a new motion would come, if it was needed, Erdogan said that party committees and the government would make necessary assessment on the issue and added that such a step could be taken, if necessary.
ERDOGAN: OUR GOVERNMENT AND STATE IS PREPARED TO DEVELOP MOST APPROPRIATE ALTERNATIVES IN LINE WITH DEMOCRATIC PREFERENCE OF PARLIAMENT
Erdogan said that the government was not and would not be deceived by some internal and external circles who tried to hamper and humiliate its efforts and stated that there were some comments and shallow allegations that this decision of the parliament meant vote of confidence for the government.
He said, ''it should not be forgotten that democracy is a regime of institutions. Regulations about the voting of the motion and vote of confidence are different things.''
Stating that ''the duty of the government and of all of us was to put into practice the requirements of this democratic preference,'' he said that one of the most significant principles of democracy was to accept that every issue could have answers more than one and produce appropriate solutions for all answers.
Erdogan said, ''every condition brings its alternative. But, we should not forget that every alternative has a price.''
He said that everyone should know that the Turkish government was capable of taking necessary measures according to the developments which would appear from now on.
Erdogan added that no one should not take into consideration speculations which would spoil economic stability.
Erdogan said that comments were made claiming that the decision of the parliament harmed the relations between Turkey and the U.S., stressing that this was not true. Erdogan noted that the relations between Turkey and the U.S. which had strategic partnership and historical deepness could not be harmed in one day just like the fact that those relations were not set up in one day.
''Our relations with the U.S. which is our friend and ally will continue from now on with all of its dynamism,'' he said.
Erdogan said that he wanted to say something to the Iraqi administration, noting ''Turkey takes steps which regard the well-being of the Iraqi people in all the decisions it takes. I would like to remind once again that the Iraqi leadership should understand properly the steps Turkey takes for peaceful solution of the problem and the need that it has to make more active its cooperation with the U.N. At this stage the biggest mistake which the Iraqi leadership can make is to misinterpret the decision the Turkish parliament took and to start acting slowly in making active cooperation with the U.N. The Iraqi administration has to understand correctly the decision of the Turkish parliament and be in a more intensive, transparent and active cooperation with the U.N.''
When asked if a motion would be submitted to the parliament and when if so, Erdogan said that the decision was taken yesterday, adding that ''a decision will be taken by assessing the issue in due time.''
Upon a question asking what would happen to the U.S. troops in the Mediterranean region, Erdogan said that ''we are not the ones who will give a decision about it.''
Responding to a question about the attitude of almost 100 AK Party deputies who voted against the motion, Erdogan said that ''certain AK Party deputies voted against it. We could have taken a group decision, but we didn't. In fact the opposition party felt the need to take a group decision. If we took such a group decision now, they would again criticize us for being undemocratic. We permitted the deputies to give their decisions freely.''
''What is your alternative from now on?'' asked a journalist to Erdogan who said that ''both the AK Party Central Decision Executive Board (MKYK) and the cabinet assesses that. As a result of these assessments, financial accounts will be made and the decision will be given according to that.''
''At the end of this process, will be motion be submitted absolutely?'' asked a journalist to Erdogan who said that ''this is a process, will it be submitted or not, we will see that in the coming process.''
''Next week we have the elections in Siirt. Two days earlier than that, the U.N. weapon inspectors will announce their report. Can this be regarded as a step for international legitimacy as stressed by Mr. President and Parliament Speaker before? In this context, can it contribute to this process?'' asked a journalist to Erdogan who said that ''it can contribute or it can't contribute. We will see and monitor this process together.''
''Will this motion be submitted to the parliament if needed?'' asked another reporter to Erdogan who said that ''I can't give an answer to that in haste. The authorized organ of the party is the MKYK, it is also the government. The government will make its assessment within itself and the authorized party organs will make that assessment within itself too. If necessary, such steps will be taken,'' he said.

(EÖ-ÖS) 02.03.2003