Cicek: Constitutional Change Is Obligatory To Take Significant Steps About Adjustment To E.U.

ANKARA - Justice Minister and Government Spokesman Cemil Cicek said on Wednesday that constitutional change was obligatory to take significant steps to adjust to the European Union (EU).
Cicek made a statement after Council of Ministers meeting.
Stating that studies about the Press Law were also brought onto agenda, Cicek said the law was prepared in line with the views revealed in the Communication Council by taking into consideration EU standards, country needs, opinions of European Court of Human Rights and universal developments.
Cicek said the target of the draft was to re-evaluate freedom of press and use of this freedom. He said the drafts that were opened to signing today would be completed soon and sent to Parliament, adding that the draft would probably be discussed in the Parliamentary General Assembly after local elections.
Cicek said Council of Ministers discussed the reports presented by Turkey's Secretariat-General for the EU regarding where Turkey was on National Program with the EU.
Cicek said, ''everybody already knows we took important steps on this issue. However, we know that we should take further steps. The public opinion should know that a constitutional change is necessary to make legal arrangements from now on. Constitutional changes became a social need today.''
Cicek said various constitutional institutions of the society stated that provisions of current constitution could not meet the needs, and that a new arrangement should be done. ''I hope that a constitutional change will be brought onto the agenda following local elections.''
Cicek said constitutional change was an assignment of the Parliament, not a government problem, noting that, ''I hope that the Parliament will consider this need, and bring it onto the agenda.''
JUSTICE MINISTER: REMAINING SILENT IS SOMETIMES THE BIGGEST CONTRIBUTION TO CYPRUS PROCESS
Cicek told that people could hear some different statements from time to time in the Cyprus process.
Commenting on words of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas that he was bewildered by those who were saying that Cyprus issue would be settled by May 1 and that he resumed talks upon Turkey's request, Cicek said that they could hear such statements from time to time in that process.
Cicek stated that making a contrary statement to each statement could harm the process more than expected.
''We should carefully follow the process instead of responding to every word of others. Remaining silent is sometimes the biggest contribution to this process. I prefer remaining silent,'' Cicek said.
When he was recalled about the news that the fourth Annan plan was prepared with the initiative of the United States in order to find some common points in the Cyprus issue, Cicek said that it was too early to make evaluations about that issue.
Cicek noted that the process could change at any moment and added, ''let's see our path instead of making a statement about every development. As Turkey, let's show our good will. All the world sees those who want to solve this problem and those who don't. We hope an agreement which will serve a lasting peace will be reached.''
JUSTICE MINISTER CICEK DEFINES COEPA'S DECISION TO CLOSE MONITORING PROCEDURE OVER TURKEY AS HOPE RAISING
Cicek told that Turkey was sometimes unjustly treated.
Cicek said that members of supervision units of COEPA were sometimes coming to Turkey and it was an ongoing process for 20 years.
Turkey was a country under supervision in respect of human rights and freedoms, Cicek noted.
Cicek said that the adjustment laws had started to bear fruit.
Turkey should continue the ongoing EU adjustment process, Cicek added.
(AA) 03.03.2004