>Date: Mon, 17 Apr 2000 01:50:11 +0200 >From: Press Agency Ozgurluk <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Subject: Turkish military wants to remain in power >Friday April 14 4:35 PM ET > >Turkey Military Discusses Election By SUZAN FRASER, Associated Press >Writer > >ANKARA, Turkey (AP) - Brushing aside concerns from the European Union, >Turkey's all-powerful military said Friday it was ``unthinkable'' that >the generals will not have a say in who will serve as the country's next >president. > >The military's statement came as Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit met with his >coalition partners Friday to discuss possible candidates for president. > >Ecevit failed to win support in parliament for the re-election of President >Suleyman Demirel, who has the military's support. Demirel's term ends May >16, and Ecevit must come up with a candidate by April 26. > >Turkey's parliament votes for the president, who is largely a >figurehead but can serve as a behind-the-scenes power broker, >especially in times of crisis. The president is elected to a >seven-year term. > >The military's statement Friday came in response to newspaper reports that >military officials wanted to keep out of the elections. The statement was >made despite calls from the EU, which Turkey aspires to join, to curtail >the generals' influence on politics. > >The military, which has seized power three times since the 1960s and >dominates Turkish politics, said it was ``unthinkable for the Turkish Armed >Forces not to have an opinion'' on presidential candidates. > >``The Armed Forces has certain thoughts on the principles and desired >qualities of, for example, the person who will be president,'' the >statement said. ``Such thoughts are conveyed to parties concerned when >deemed necessary.'' > >Turkey's staunchly secular generals are likely to insist on a president >who backs their drive to fight Islamic political groups and who is not >tainted by corruption scandals. > >Ecevit hopes that the coalition's three members can reach quick agreement >on the presidency to avoid infighting as the government struggles to push >forward an ambitious, IMF-backed program to fight inflation. The coalition >must also concentrate on reforming Turkey's laws to prepare for EU >membership. > >Ecevit refused to disclose the results of his Friday meeting but said he >would also hold talks with opposition parties. No clear candidates have >emerged so far, although several names have been suggested, including >ex-ministers and retired generals. > > > > >-- >Pressagency Ozgurluk.Org >In solidarity with the Peoples Liberationstruggle in Turkey and >Kurdistan http://www.ozgurluk.org >DHKP-C: http://www.ozgurluk.org/dhkc > __________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki - Finland +358-40-7177941, fax +358-9-7591081 e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.kominf.pp.fi ___________________________________ [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe/unsubscribe messages mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] ___________________________________
