ANKARA - Justice Minister Cemil Cicek said on Tuesday that the sixth EU adjustment package would be sent to the Prime Ministry probably on Thursday.
Upon the question of A.A correspondent, Cicek said that the studies about the draft came to the last stage. After the examination to be made in the Prime Ministry, the bill would be sent to the cabinet and later to the parliament.
''Will the 8th article of Anti-Terrorism Act be lifted?'' asked journalists to Cicek who said that ''yes it is cancelled in our draft. There is Article 312 in Turkish Penal Code which is in the same direction. In fact instead of such special laws, provisions are included in general penal laws. By taking into consideration the comparative law, we will cancel Article 8 of Anti-Terrorism Act.''
Cicek said that the issue could be taken to the agenda of the National Security Council (NSC) by the proposal of Prime Minister or Chief of General Staff, reminding that the draft foresaw amendment in ten separate laws.
Cicek stated that the draft didn't belong to the Justice Ministry, but it was submitted by the Secretariat General for EU Affairs, Cicek said that the views of all state institutions were taken when the draft was being prepared and that it was a product of cooperation.
Cicek said that ''Foreign Ministry carries out the relations with the EU. Secretariat General for EU Affairs is an organ of that. NSC is also an organ of the state. The thing that matters here is to record progress on the way to EU membership. Therefore, all organs of the state should be in cooperation in the steps to be taken and every organ will explain its views in this process.''
(Öª-AÖ) 20.05.2003