The ruling AK Party ministers reacted Supreme Court's statement. Justice Minister Sahin said the statement was political and unnecessary. Deputy PM Cicek said it was inadmissible.

'No need such a statement' - 21 / 05 / 2008 22:54

Turkish Justice Minister Mehmet Ali Sahin said on Wednesday that the statement issued by the Supreme Court of Appeals was political and unnecessary.

 "I'd like to describe such statements as political. I have respect to all members of the Court, but such a statement was not necessary," Sahin told reporters when asked about the statement.

Earlier in the day, Presidents Committee of Turkey's Supreme Court of Appeals said in a statement tnat there were attempts to influence and control the judiciary.

It said a judiciary, under the control and guidance of the executive body, was wanted in Turkey.

Sahin said, "neither the judiciary nor the executive body should control each other. Turkish Justice Ministry and the government have done and will continue to do whatever required for the separation of powers."

Asked about the criticism made by the Supreme Court of Appeals on the draft strategy on judiciary reform, Sahin said his ministry would not withdraw the draft.

"It is not completed yet. We will complete it after discussions," he said.

He added that the ministry and the government would share the draft with judiciary bodies.

Turkey's State Minister & Deputy Prime Minister Cemil Cicek has also reacted to the statement of the Presidents Commission of the Supreme Court of Appeals, and said, "this statement is not only lack of democratic legitimacy, it is also lack of legal legitimacy. This is a political statement and it is totally inadmissible."

Earlier in the day, the Presidents Commission of the Supreme Court of Appeals issued a statement criticising certain political circles for attempting to influence and control the judiciary branch.

Cicek, said at a news conference he held with executives of the ruling Justice & Development (AK) Party, "we consider this statement unfortunate for our democracy and judicial system."

"The commission does not have the duty and the authority of issuing such statements. Our democratic judicial system does not allow use of any authority which does not stem from the Constitution and laws, on behalf of Turkish people. Therefore, this statement is not only lack of democratic legitimacy, it is also lack of legal legitimacy. This is a political statement and it is totally inadmissible. "

"This commission is not a political organ and it cannot take sides in political discussions. It cannot act like an opposition party. It is not the job of the judiciary to discuss activities of legislative and executive organs and processes of enactment. The commission which considers arguments of the public opinion an intervention in judiciary, violated Article 138 of the Constitution itself by taking sides in ongoing cases at a higher court," he added.