Erdogan working to make May 1 an official holiday

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday met with Industry and Trade Minister Zafer Caglayan, Labor and Social Security Minister Faruk Celik, and State Minister and chief negotiator for EU talks Egemen Bagis at his house in Istanbul's Uskudar district. Speaking to reporters afterwards, Erdogan said he told Celik to speak with trade unions about making May 1 an official holiday, adding that the government wants to pass laws on unions and collective bargaining as soon as possible as part of Turkey's European Union accession reforms. Asked about a possible Cabinet reshuffle, Erdogan criticized media speculation, saying that when the time comes he will make a statement on the matter. Asked whether Azeri President Ilham Aliyev opposes Turkey's efforts to normalize its relations with Armenia, Erdogan said, "As long as the problems between Azerbaijan and Armenia remain unresolved, progress towards the normalization of relations between Turkey and Armenia will be very difficult. The UN Security Council should adopt a resolution declaring Armenia an occupying country and urge it to withdraw from Azeri territory." Erdogan also accused opposition parties of distorting facts about government efforts to normalize relations with Armenia.