Ecevit's Last TV Appearance

Rejecting all kinds of pressure and subversion throughout his political life, the deceased former Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit never compromised on his stance on international Turkish schools.

On a visit to Albania in March 2000 as the Turkish prime minister, Ecevit praised the representatives of the Turkish school in the country, saying, "I celebrate all your works and efforts here, advertently taking the risk of being criticized by certain groups."

The Albanian students in return visited him during his treatment at Gulhane Military Academy of Medicine (GATA) and signed the visitors' book.

In his last TV interview, Ecevit highlighted the importance of the Turkish schools.

Ecevit, who will be buried tomorrow following a state ceremony, noted that the Turkish people had been bereft of education ever since the Ottoman state collapsed and reiterated that tens of thousands of Eurasian students had been invited to Turkey to receive proper education.

The interview, made on Dec. 6, 2005 by CNN Turkish Television, was rebroadcasted Thursday in commemoration of Ecevit.

During the program he answered Suna Vidinli's questions and emphasized the success and importance of the education campaign launched by Fethullah Gülen and his friends.

Underlining that those criticizing him for his support in Turkish schools were wrong and would hopefully come to realize their errors in time, Ecevit said: "Mr. Gülen and his friends started the process of education in Turkish. Students learn English, Turkish and their native languages well at these schools."

During his last TV appearance, Ecevit also ascertained that Turkish leftists had failed to unite with the people.

Describing those discussing the left in Turkey as "well-educated and intellectual," Ecevit added: "They neither went to the people nor came to us. And the people never dropped in on them in return. The secret of our success was putting the leftist ideals into practice, not leaving them on pieces of paper."