ANKARA - Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Sunday that ''I support presidential and semi-presidential system in politics. I wish it to be adopted in Turkey, too.''
Erdogan said that the ideal model in his mind is the American model.
Responding to questions of journalists in ATV private channel, Prime Minister Erdogan said that ''all institutions in the country have to get united with the people and a consensus has to be ensured regarding the adoption of such a presidential system. Without ensuring this consensus, this transition can't be healthy, too. But if we succeed that, I believe that Turkey will have a great leap forward.''
Noting that the interventions between legislation and execution have ended in the American model, Erdogan said that ''if a deputy becomes a minister, then he/she gives up deputyship and he/she only remains as minister. Moreover you can also appoint ministers outside the parliament.'' Erdogan said that the difficulty stemmed from the fact that deputies in Turkey thought that they could get votes if they ''fulfil the requests of'' the people in their election districts.
When reminded he criticized media without making difference at the group meeting last week, he said that media should make right determinations while issuing warnings.
Erdogan said, ''freedom also means responsibility. If something bad is brought forward regarding a government, prime minister, president or chief of general staff, those things should be based on a document or information.''
Erdogan said that they felt sad about baseless news stories.
Upon a question on privatization, Erdogan said, ''the thing we want is to make a rapid privatization.''
Stating that they were exerting efforts to take steps within rules, Erdogan said that they could not do privatization without complying with those rules. Erdogan said that realistic projects should be undertaken instead of donation. Erdogan added that they would issue treasury debenture bond for dams, bridges and roads.
(EÖ-ÖS) 20.04.2003