No official recognition for any language other than Turkish, Erdogan says

ANKARA (A.A) - 09.06.2011 - Turkey's prime minister said late on Wednesday that his Justice & Development (AK) Party did not acknowledge any other language than Turkish as official.
Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his party paved the way for courses in mother tongue.
"Whoever wants can go there and get education, but we do not recognize any other language than Turkish as official," Erdogan said during a televised interview.
Erdogan said "Kurdish issue" was included in his party program, and said nobody could separate Turks and Kurds.
"Assimilation is out of question during our ruling. We respect our Kurdish brothers, but also they are to respect Turks in the same way," he said.
On developments in Syria, Erdogan said Turkey had taken measures in its southern provinces of Hatay, Gaziantep and Mardin and almost 1,200 Syrians entered Turkey from Hatay.
"We are ready to all steps, but Friday and Sunday are two important days," he said.
Recently, hundreds of Syrian people living near Turkish border are crossing into Turkey to escape violence between anti-Assad protesters and government forces.
Erdogan said Turkey expected the European Union (EU) and some European countries to take positive steps as Turkey did.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his party was willing to make a new constitution with a compromise after Sunday's general elections.
(BRC-MS)