No democracy timetable — Musharraf

Insallah (with god’s permission) I will put this label of democracy some time in the near future,” Gen Musharraf told a news conference in AnkaraHowever, the Pakistani General avoided providing a schedule for a return to democracy. “I have set certain objectives to be achieved…These essential objectives cannot be translated into a time frame.”He travelled to Turkey from Qatar on the second leg of a tour of three fellow Muslim nations seen as a drive to gain acceptance for his rule.

After meeting Turkish Prime Minister BulentEcevit, Musharraf said Ecevit had shown a “total understanding” of his position and agreed on further cooperation.

Gen. Musharraf said he planned to delegate power at the district level in Pakistan to enable more people to participate in ruling, a system he called “democracy at grassroots”.

“We would like to give them authority and also power for revenue collection. So they will have the financial power and also the areas like the education, health and communication which they look after for themselves,” he said.

Gen. Musharraf, who also speaks Turkish after spending part of his childhood in Ankara, met President Suleyman Demirel later in the evening.Demirel, himself twice ousted as Prime Minister in military coups, was to give Musharraf “lessons in democracy”, one of the President’s foreign policy advisors told Reuters earlier.

Gen Musharraf also said he would seek a national consensus before deciding on whether to sign the Comprehensive nuclear Test Ban treaty. Western countries eagerly seeknuclear-capable Pakistan’s signature.

He said his country should be able to stand on its feet financially. “My primary concern will remain as to keep Pakistan outside the bonds of the IMF and the world bank.”Veteran leftist Ecevit, also imprisoned when Turkey’s generals took power in 1980, said he regretted Musharraf’s coup, but said it would not affect traditionally warm ties between the overwhelmingly Muslim nations.

The Pakistani General described Turkey and Pakistan as “sailing in the same boat concerning the military’s role”.

He voiced admiration for retired Turkish General Kenan Evren who captured power in 1980 in a military coup and later served as turkey’s President after a referendum.

Pakistan and Turkey share a history of military interruptions to often unstable civilian rules with the Pakistani Army seizing power four times since the country gained independence 52 years ago. Turkish generals have staged three coups since 1960.