TURKEY: ELECTION WINNER JUSTICE AND DEVELOPMENT PARTY LEADER RECEP TAYYIP ERDOGAN SAYS HE WILL HOLD IMMEDIATE MEETINGS WITH RULING AND MAIN OPPOSITION PARTIES

Record ID: 584932

  • Title: TURKEY: ELECTION WINNER JUSTICE AND DEVELOPMENT PARTY LEADER RECEP TAYYIP ERDOGAN SAYS HE WILL HOLD IMMEDIATE MEETINGS WITH RULING AND MAIN OPPOSITION PARTIES
  • Date: 5th November 2002
  • Summary: (EU) ANKARA, TURKEY (NOVEMBER 4, 2002) (REUTERS) 1. MV JUSTICE AND DEVELOPMENT PARTY LEADER RECEP TAYYIP ERDOGAN ARRIVING AT NEWS CONFERENCE (3 SHOTS) 0.20 2. (SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) RECEP TAYYIP ERDOGAN SAYING "I have to express that, we will do what we can do to get an accession date for Turkey for which we will get together very rapidly with government and main opposition paties of EU member countries before the Copenhagen Summit." 0.48 3. MV MEDIA 0.58 4. (SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) RECEP TAYYIP ERDOGAN SAYING "It is declared on our party programme that we are (AKP) not a religious-oriented party. Our coming achievements will show this very clearly." 1.22 5. MV FORMER FOREIGN MINISTER AND COLUMNIST, MUMTAZ SOYSAL SEATED AT DESK READING NEWSPAPER; SCU NEWSPAPER HEADLINE 1.33 6. (SOUNDBITE) (English) MUMTAZ SOYSAL SAYING "Things will remain as they are. Because these new large majority in parliament will try to behave very moderately, in order not to provoke the establishment or other circles in Turkey, especially the military." 1.54 6. MV TURKISH PRIME MINISTER BULENT ECEVIT COMING FOR PRESS CONFERENCE 2.02 7. (SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) BULENT ECEVIT SAYING "I have submitted the resignation of the cabinet to the president. He requested me to keep on working until the new government organises. I will surely accomplish his request." 2.14 8. MV EX-DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER, AND MOTHERLAND PARTY LEADER, MESUT YILMAZ AT PRESS CONFERENCE 2.23 9. (SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) MESUT YILMAZ SAYING "To allow the re-construction, I decided quitting from Motherland party and from active politics." 2.37 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 20th November 2002 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: ANKARA, TURKEY
  • Country: Turkey
  • Reuters ID: LVA8FGD562RZ0M8TUWCX7C2FSQU6
  • Story Text: Election winner Justice and Development Party leader
    Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said that he will hold immediate
    meetings with ruling and main opposition parties of the
    European Union member countries to get an accession date for
    Turkey in the Copenhagen Summit.

    Election winner Justice and Development Party leader
    Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in a news conference on Monday
    (November 4, 2002) that his party will hold meetings with party
    members of the European Union member countries before the
    Copenhagen Summit.

    "I have to express that, we will do what we can do to get
    an accession date for Turkey for which we will get together
    very rapidly with government and main opposition paties of EU
    members countries before Copenhagen Summit," said Erdogan.

    Erdogan also commented on allegations that regarding his
    party's Islamic roots.

    "It is declared on our party programme that we are (AKP)
    not a religious-oriented party, said Erdogan.

    Analysts are supporting him. Former foreign minister,
    columnist Mumtaz Soysal says the main reason for AKP to behave
    moderately is not to provoke the establishment or other cirles
    in Turkey.

    "Things will remain as they are. Because these new large
    majority in parliament will try to behave very moderately, in
    order not to provoke the establishment or other circles in
    Turkey, especially the military," said Soysal.

    On the other hand election loser Prime Minister Bulent
    Ecevit submitted the resignation to the president which will
    allow the organisation of the new government in Turkish
    politics.

    "I submitted the resignation of the cabinet to the
    president. He requested me to keep on working until the new
    government organises. I will surely accomplish his request,"
    said Ecevit after meeting with the president.

    Another resignation announcement came from the third
    partner of the old coalition.

    The third member of the coalition and Motherland Party
    leader Mesut Yilmaz became the latest political victims of
    Turkey's electoral landslide on Monday (November 4) when they
    announced they would step down from their parties after
    crushing defeat.

    Mesut Yilmaz, who was a deputy prime minister and minister
    responsible for EU affairs in the last government, said he
    would give up politics entirely. His party polled just 5.1
    percent.


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