Labeling ’unfair,’ says Arınç
Güncelleme Tarihi:
Hürriyet Daily News
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Mayıs 08, 2009 00:00
ANKARA - Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç yesterday rejected claims that the new Cabinet is closer to a "National View."
"Defining the new Cabinet in such ways just by considering three members of the Cabinet, which is composed of 26 members, is wrong and unfair," Arınç said, speaking during a live broadcast on NTV.
Arınç pointed to his long career in politics and said he has done politics in many parties including the National Salvation Party, or MSP, Welfare Party, or RP, and Virtue Party, or FP.
"I did politics with those parties in the foreground. However, I, myself, took part in the establishment process of the AKP with my friends," he said, stressing that today his political identity is conservative democrat. Stating that he is not ashamed of his former National View identity, Arınç said his views have changed over time.
In relation to his past statements about the Turkish Armed Forces, or TSK, Arınç said his words were directed at individuals, not the institution itself. "Our personal issues can never be a topic of discussion," he said.
"I have never been against the armed forces, the army and the honorable institution that represents all of these," he said. Referring to recordings of retired generals that were discovered under the Ergenekon investigation, Arınç had said, "Thank God Turkey did not go to war during their terms."
Arınç pointed to his long career in politics and said he has done politics in many parties including the National Salvation Party, or MSP, Welfare Party, or RP, and Virtue Party, or FP.
"I did politics with those parties in the foreground. However, I, myself, took part in the establishment process of the AKP with my friends," he said, stressing that today his political identity is conservative democrat. Stating that he is not ashamed of his former National View identity, Arınç said his views have changed over time.
In relation to his past statements about the Turkish Armed Forces, or TSK, Arınç said his words were directed at individuals, not the institution itself. "Our personal issues can never be a topic of discussion," he said.
"I have never been against the armed forces, the army and the honorable institution that represents all of these," he said. Referring to recordings of retired generals that were discovered under the Ergenekon investigation, Arınç had said, "Thank God Turkey did not go to war during their terms."