June 10, 2002	Monday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 28,1423

ANKARA, June 9: Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, making his first public appearance in more than 10 days on Sunday after suffering persistent health problems, vowed once again that he would not resign.

“There is no question of distancing myself from the affairs of state. I have no intention of leaving government duties. I do not have the right while I am prime minister,” he told reporters at his private Ankara residence, where he is resting following his latest stay in hospital.

Ecevit, who appeared smiling and relaxed, also said that his fragile coalition government was working “in harmony” despite differences over reforms demanded by the European Union so that it could begin talks to join the 15-member bloc.

Fresh concerns about the country’s political and economic future were fuelled after ill health forced Ecevit to miss a key meeting to discuss the EU-sought reforms such as the abolition of the death penalty and legalizing broadcasts and education in the language of the Kurdish minority on Friday.

The veteran leader had not appeared in public since May 28 and spent the past month either in hospital or at home suffering from a series of ailments.

Ecevit, 77, is suffering from a neuromuscular disease, a cracked rib, spinal problems and an inflamed leg vein. Media reports have said he is also suffering from Parkinson’s disease, a claim he has denied.

Ecevit, five-time prime minister, said he would continue to work from home for the next two or three weeks and that he would not be able to attend a European summit later this month June, but insisted his health problems were not creating a power vacuum.

Government stability is vital for Turkey at a time when it is battling a severe economic crisis with massive loans from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which saved the country from the brink of a financial collapse in February 2001.—AFP