ADANA - Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Sunday that it would not be possible to get a result with cases that continued for years and added that they were trying to accelerate justice.
Speaking in inauguration ceremony of Adana Court House, Erdogan said that members of the Supreme Court of Appeals and the Council of State should convey their views about initiatives to be launched to accelerate justice.
Erdogan noted that they were ready to take those steps.
Religious exploitation should not be permitted with religious nationalism and nationalism based on races, Erdogan stated.
Erdogan said, ''our common denominator is Turkish Republic citizenship. We never make nationalism based on religion, region and race. What service is given to the West of Turkey should be given to every part of Turkey.''
Touching on the European Union (EU) membership process, Erdogan stated that EU member countries also witnessed and were surprised with the change in Turkey.
Erdogan said, ''Turkey is now on the road to EU. You see the steps taken regarding Copenhagen political criteria on the road to EU. The sixth reform package is completed and national program is being prepared. It will pass from the parliament next week and then, the seventh reform package will come. They are surprised about our speed. The EU countries said in Thessaloniki that we had surprised them.''
There were two important concepts in that success, Erdogan noted and listed them as harmony and implementation.
Erdogan pointed out that freedom of thought should not be damaged in a country and should be put into practice as necessary. But, he said, any freedom could not be unlimited.
Drawing the attention that freedom of one person would end when the freedom of another started, Erdogan said, ''there can't be unlimited freedom. We should determine all these well.''
Nobody should be feared of thought and organization in Turkey, Erdogan stated.
Erdogan added, ''if you trust your opinion, you don't be feared of freedom of thought. You shouldn't be afraid of freedom of belief. Let people live as they believe. But, unfortunately, those who don't rely on belief are afraid of freedom of belief. Don't be afraid, be comfortable. Freedom of belief will reach the place it should reach in our country.''
(BRC-AY) 29.06.2003