Baykal: Lift Parliamentary Immunity Of Parliamentarians If There Are Corruption Allegations Against Them

Turkish Press
April 3 2005

ANKARA – “Lift parliamentary immunity of Republican People’s Party
(CHP) parliamentarians if there are corruption allegations against them
and lets bring them to court,” CHP leader Deniz Baykal said on Tuesday.

Taking the floor at the group meeting of his party Baykal said,
“there is a file also against me. Lift my parliamentary immunity
(if you can). You cannot because you know your turn will come.”

“CHP has openly revealed its position on the issue. It is ready to
lift the immunity of all its parliamentarians if there are corruption
allegations against them. We are challenging you,” Baykal stressed.
-ARMENIAN ISSUE-

Baykal, who also mentioned the Armenian issue, stated that the stance
of the European countries against Turkey as regards the allegations
of so-called Armenian genocide reflect the mentality of the Middle
Ages. “This approach is very dangerous for Europe,” he said.

Baykal harshly criticized the opening of a legal procedure against
Turkish Institute of History (TTK) Chairman Prof. Dr. Yusuf Halacoglu
because of his statement on the allegations of so-called Armenian
genocide; initiatives in Belgium to sentence those who make similar
statements up to one year in prison; and decisions taken in parliaments
of several countries.

Baykal said he was mostly offended by the decision made in Polish
Parliament, stating that no problem whatsoever existed between Turkey
and Poland in the past.