ANKARA
The reinstatement of Hakan Fidan as Turkey's intelligence chief is legal, the Turkish president said Thursday.
The remarks of Recep Tayyip Erdogan came during a joint press conference with his Hungarian counterpart Janos Ader in the Turkish capital, Ankara.
Opposition parties criticized the reinstatement of Fidan, claiming it was not legal and saying that his association with a political party had made him partisan.
"There is no legal obstacle for his return to his previous post," said Erdogan.
On March 9, Fidan withdrew his nomination for the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party's candidacy in the upcoming general elections. He had resigned from his post as head of Turkey’s intelligence agency, or MIT, on Feb. 6
Erdogan also addressed his Wednesday high-level meeting with Deputy PM Ali Babacan and Central Bank Governor Erdem Basci on interest rates after the recent jump of the U.S. dollar against the Turkish lira.
The president has repeatedly criticized the Central Bank for its tight money policy.
"We have smoothed it over in the end, and hopefully we will meet more frequently from now on," he said. "We have shared our sensitivities on not letting any halt or decline in investments in Turkey."
Erdogan also thanked his counterpart Janos Ader for his support for Turkey's EU membership.
Turkey applied for EU membership in 1987 and accession talks began in 2005.
"We want Chapter 17 on Economic and Monetary Policy to be opened," said Erdogan.
To gain membership, Turkey must successfully conclude negotiations with the EU in 35 policy areas, or "chapters," which involve reforms and the adoption of European standards. So far, 14 chapters have been opened, while 17 remain blocked and another four have yet to be discussed.
"Turkey is an economic part of the EU," said Hungarian President Janos Ader.
