ISTANBUL - When there was not any imprisonment in Turkey on charges of beliefs, full and firm democracy would prevail in Turkey, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday.
Erdogan addressed opening remarks of 75th Congress of the World Association of Newspapers (WAN) and 11th World Editors Forum (WEF) at the Lutfi Kirdar International Congress and Exhibition Center in Istanbul and then replied to questions of foreign editors.
Replying to a question on freedom of press in Turkey, Erdogan said that Turkey was more advanced than many developed countries in the world in respect to freedom of press.
Erdogan stated that Turkish government was taking steps to further improve freedom of press.
The new Press Law which would be submitted to the Parliamentary General Assembly would contribute to Turkey's steps aiming at further improvement of freedom of press, Erdogan pointed out.
Erdogan said that he did not want anybody to be imprisoned on charges of his/her beliefs, opinions and thoughts unless those thoughts were turned into action.
''Because, I experienced it as a person who paid such a cost. When there is no imprisonment on charges of thoughts, full and firm democracy will prevail in Turkey,'' Erdogan added.
A total of 72 national newspapers union, individual newspaper directors from 102 countries, 13 news agencies and ten regional or worldwide press groups are members of WAN.
More than 1400 CEO, director general, general publication director and delegates from 88 countries are participating in the congress.
(BRC-AÖ) 31.05.2004