Turkish press yesterday II

TDN
Thursday, May 5, 2005

PRESS SCANNER

85 amendments for TCK and CMK:

Daily Yeni Safak reported that the Justice and Development Party
(AKP) Justice Commission and the Justice Ministry submitted a
proposal suggesting 85 amendments to three articles of the new
Turkish Penal Code (TCK) and the Criminal Procedures Law (CMK).

With another amendment made to the article criminalizing
“acts against fundamental national interest,” foreigners who
come to Turkey and try to make financial gains through actions that
go against national interests could be tried in court on charges that
carry a sentence of up to 10 years in prison.

Schroeder arrives in Turkey:

German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder on Tuesday began a two-day
visit to Turkey, accompanied by 600 German businesspersons, reported
daily Radikal.

Daily Sabah said Schroeder had admitted that the European Union
hadn’t follow through on its commitments regarding the issue of
Cyprus.

Touching on the issue of the alleged Armenian genocide, Schroeder
said Germany is defending the idea of leaving the issue to experts
and historians, reported Zaman. “The archives should be
opened,” said Schroeder.

Schroeder assured Turkish leaders that membership negotiations
with the union would start as scheduled on Oct. 3 but warned that
Turkey must implement necessary reforms, reported daily Sabah.

‘Balance of power not matter for discussion’:

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he has no intention
of being drawn into an issue concerning the authority of
Parliament and the Constitutional Court that was sparked when
Constitutional Court Chief Judge Mustafa Bumin made remarks warning
those who attempt to lift the ban on wearing a headscarf in state
institutions and on university campuses, daily Radikal reported.

Certain groups limited by baseless fears are trying to benefit by
creating social tension.

Meanwhile, daily Cumhuriyet reported on main opposition
Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal, Higher Education
Board (YÃ-K) Chairman Erdogan Tezic and former president Suleyman
Demirel’s remarks concerning Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc
reportedly saying that Parliament could annul the Constitutional
Court if it wanted to do so.

While Baykal said that no one in Turkey could call for a
discussion on the structure of the balance of power and authority in
Turkey, Tezic noted that Bumin’s comments about the impossibility of
lifting the headscarf ban were not Bumin’s personal opinions but
rather were legal facts, reported Cumhuriyet.

Former President Demirel said despite Parliament’s authority to
close down the Constitutional Court, the history of the Turkish
Republic demonstrates why this court is necessary.

–Boundary_(ID_HUZRqV5n70C2g0HpIT+tQg)–