Turkey - Constitutional Court's Rule

ANA/MPA - Thursday 31st of July 2008

Turkey’s constitutional court ruled against closing the governing AK Party for Islamist activities but decided to impose partial financial penalties on the party as announced by Chairman Hasim Kilic, the chief justice.

The decision triggered satisfaction to the political world and to financial representatives. After the rule, stocks in trade markets presented a rising tendency. Meantime, as announced earlier, Turkish police arrested 9 suspects for the bombing attacks in Istanbul. There are no details regarding the identity of the arrestees or for their role in the attacks. Turkish president Abdulah Gul was present today at the place of the attacks sending a message against terrorism. Turkish authorities and Erdogan personally are holding responsible the Kurdish autonomists who are denying any involvement.

Reactions

The European Union branded the decision issued earlier by the Constitutional Court of Turkey "good news". In Brussels officials expressed relief at the verdict. "I encourage Turkey now to resume with full energy its reforms to modernise the country," European Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn said in a statement. Rehn urged political parties to work together towards reforms based on a broad-based dialogue. "Alignment of Turkey’s rules on political parties with European standards is essential," he said. Labour Minister Faruk Celik said that Turkish democracy had won, according to CNN Turk broadcaster.

In Athens, diplomatic sources stressed that this decision puts an end to a period of uncertainty. PASOK representative on foreign affairs’ issues, Andreas Loverdos made the following statement: "PASOK estimates that the decision of the Constitutional Court is a very positive progress for the stability in Turkey and in the wider area. At the same time, this decision helps to the de escalation of the political crisis that marked the Euro Turkish relation during the last months".

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