TURKISH PM ERDOGAN DISMISSES REPORTS ON EARLY ELECTION

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
02.11.2009 14:20 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday
ruled out holding a general election before its scheduled date in
2011, dismissing media reports this week that he might bring the vote
forward by one year.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony for new terminal of the
International Sabiha Gokcen Airport in Istanbul, Erdogan said
his ruling Justice & Development (AK) Party was committed to hold
parliamentary elections on time.

"From now on, elections will be held on the announced date. They may
be pulled forward by one or two months, that’s different," Erdogan
told reporters, according to the state-run Anatolian news agency.

Erdogan’s ruling AK Party swept to power in 2002, becoming the first
single-party government in more than a decade. It was re-elected in
2007 by the biggest margin of votes in 40 years.

Media reports circulating over the past few days claimed that he
talked to main opposition leader Deniz Baykal about an early election.

Erdogan denied reports and said, "it is against my principles."

"Why would I share such a thing with the main opposition (Republican
People’s Party)?" he said. "All these reports are lies."

Erdogan also said that "early election talk" would give harm to
Turkey. He said such a talk caused a negative effect on the stock
market over the past two days.

In recent months the AK Party has faced hostility from opposition
parties over its policy on Kurdish inititive to help end a 25-year
war with PKK separatists.

It has also been criticised for agreeing to open diplomatic relations
with its arch rival and neighbour Armenia, plans to draft a more
liberal constitution and for other European Union-inspired measures
the government hopes will bring it closer to membership of the bloc.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress