ANKARA - Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday that President Ahmet Necdet Sezer accepted the list of Council of Ministers of the 59th government.
Erdogan made a statement and responded to the questions of reporters after his meeting with President Sezer.
Erdogan said he was designated to form the 59th government on March 11, and that today he presented the list of Council of Ministers to Sezer.
Erdogan said Sezer approved the list.
SEZER APPROVED THE LIST WITHOUT CHANGE
When asked whether or not President Sezer made any changes in the list presented to him, Erdogan said, ''no. Mr. President approved the list I presented without any change.''
When a journalist said State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Ertugrul Yalcinbayir was not included in the list asked whether or not this stemmed from his attitude on the motion, Erdogan said, ''we have decreased the number of ministers in the government. We will also unite Culture and Tourism ministries. We will also unite Ministry of Environment and Forestry. This is the list of Council of Ministers that is prepared according to a new arrangement.''
Responding to a question which said, ''there are few changes in list of ministers of the 58th government and the new government. Does this have any special reason?'' Erdogan said, ''as you know there is a four-month old cabinet. This is the AK Party government. Thus, there was no need to have a rooted change.''
When asked whether or not he contacted with President Sezer before visiting Cankaya Palace or if he had sent the list beforehand, Erdogan said, ''I sent my list to President Sezer beforehand and I was invited afterwards. As a result of this invitation, I announced you the list of Council of Ministers.''
Responding to another question, Erdogan said government program would be read out in the Parliament within the week.
LIST OF COUNCIL OF MINISTERS
Below is the list of ministers in the 59th government.
Prime Minister:Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister: Abdullah Gul
State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister: Abdullatif Sener
State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister : Mehmet Ali Sahin
State Minister : Mehmet Aydin
State Minister : Besir Atalay
State Minister : Ali Babacan
Justice Minister: Cemil Cicek
National Defense Minister: Vecdi Gonul
Interior Minister : Abdulkadir Aksu
Finance Minister : Kemal Unakitan
National Education Minister : Huseyin Celik
Public Works and Housing Minister : Zeki Ergezen
Health Minister : Recep Akdag
Transportation Minister : Binali Yildirim
Agriculture and Rural Affairs Minister : Sami Guclu
Labor and Social Security Minister: Murat Basesgioglu
Industry and trade Minister: Ali Coskun
Energy and Natural Resources Minister: Hilmi Guler
Culture Minister: Erkan Mumcu
Tourism Minister: Guldal Aksit
Forestry Minister: Osman Pepe
Environment Minister: Kursat Tuzmen