Erdogan says he will answer much speculated question

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said he will reply to a parliamentary coup commission’s written questions on past military activity, including a question on his much-speculated “Dolmabahce meeting” with former Chief of Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukan?t in 2007.

Speaking to reporters yesterday before departing for Pakistan, he said he received the questions late Nov. 20 and would work on the answers during his overseas visit. Erdogan also said he would return the answers before the Nov. 27 deadline.

Erdogan met Buyukan?t on May 4, 2007, at Dolmabahce Palace during which the men were rumored to have cut a secret deal.

Responding to a recent call from Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal K?l?cdaroglu to suspend the activities of NATO’s radar base in eastern Turkey to back up his tough talk against Israel on the grounds that data from the site is reportedly provided to the Israelis, Erdogan said Turkey was hosting the system because it was a member of the alliance and that NATO had long had a base in the area.

Erdogan also criticized Devlet Bahceli, leader of Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), suggesting the latter had no connection with the Islamic world.

“Which country have you visited?” Erdogan asked Bahceli. “Have you participated in any meeting of the [Islamic world]?”

Asked if the government would take any new steps following the submission of legislation to permit court defenses in suspects’ mother tongues, Erdogan said some further steps would be included in the fourth judicial reform package.



/hurriyetdailynews.com/