Bülent Ecevit - Rahşan Ecevit Science, Culture and Art Foundation commemorated former Prime Minister and DSP Chairman Bülent Ecevit on the 20th anniversary of his death, with the "Ecevit in Memories" meeting held at his house in Oran, Ankara, where he lived for many years and which is today used as the foundation's headquarters.
Foundation President Emrehan Halıcı, former Prime Ministry Undersecretary Füsun Koroğlu, former Ankara Deputy Ayşe Gürocak, Ecevit's private secretary Zeynel Yeşilay, former Minister of State Tayfun İçli, former Adana Deputy Ali Tekin, former TRNC Ankara Ambassador Ahmet Zeki Olmaç and former Chief Public Prosecutor Talat Şalk attended the meeting.
At the meeting, which started after a minute of silence, Ecevit's political life, personality and memories with his colleagues were explained. Foundation President Emrehan Halıcı stated that Ecevit's value has been better understood over the years and that introducing Ecevit to new generations is one of the responsibilities of the foundation.
One of the notable parts of the meeting was about the cash register protest in front of the Prime Ministry during the 2001 economic crisis.
On April 4, 2001, Ahmet Çakmak (35), a flower wholesaler, said "It is of no use to me anymore, dear Prime Minister" and threw the cash register in front of Prime Minister Bülent Ecevit, expressing the bad business and the economic difficulties he was experiencing.
Ecevit's private secretary, Zeynel Yeşilay, explained the behind-the-scenes story of the cash register action, which was seen as one of the events that caused the fall of the coalition government at that time and was frequently mentioned by the AKP government.
Green Crescent claimed that the throwing of the cash register was organized in advance. Green Crescent said, "The cash register is a scam and a waste of money. A man brings the safe. The police officers there do not ask where this safe came from. He puts the safe at the door where the members of the press enter. He enters and says to the journalists, 'I brought the cash register, I will throw it away, you should take it.' They immediately organize and film the safe being thrown at the Prime Minister."
Stating that he talked to the person who threw the safe after the incident, Green Crescent stated that this person told him, "I have no job, I have no power." Green Crescent claimed that it later found a job for the person in question, but the person ran away from there.
Green Crescent also touched upon the early election decision taken during the 57th Government period.
Explaining that Ecevit could not eat enough due to his illness and that arrangements were made for him to stay at the official residence in his last period, Green Crescent said that Ecevit paid for the meal he ate there from his own pocket.
Stating that Devlet Bahçeli came to meet Ecevit before the early election decision, Green Crescent stated that he addressed Bahçeli with the following words:
"You planted a tree, received water, fertilizer and sun from a neighbor. You want to cut down the tree just when it will bear fruit. Please do not do this."
However, an early election decision was made. In the elections of November 3, 2002, DSP, MHP and ANAP were left out of the Parliament.
Former Prime Ministry Undersecretary Füsun Koroğlu, who worked with Ecevit for 12 years, also shared her memories of her start of duty and her working period.
Explaining that he personally called Ecevit after asking for an appointment, Koroğlu said that he accepted Ecevit's request to consult him. Sharing a memory he had during his time as Undersecretary of the Prime Ministry, Koroğlu stated that when he went to Ecevit to convey the problems, he was greeted with the following words:
“Mrs. Füsun, I get goosebumps when you come, what are you going to say again?” He then quoted Ecevit as saying, "But unfortunately, everything you said turns out to be true."
Former State Minister Tayfun İçli argued that the 57th Government was struggling with the major earthquake disaster and economic problems, and that political operations were carried out against the DSP and the government.
Former Ankara Deputy Ayşe Gürocak said that she followed the passage of Ecevit's occupational safety law in the Parliament for 13 hours.
According to Gürocak, when it was suggested that he rest, Ecevit replied, "This is the fun of it; we passed the law regarding workers after 13 hours."
Former Adana Deputy Ali Tekin also stated that Ecevit prioritized Turkey's sovereign rights and independence in his foreign policy, and cited the lifting of the poppy cultivation ban and the Cyprus Peace Operation decisions as examples of this approach.
