ANKARA - Turkish Justice Minister Cemil Cicek met Justice Minister Anastasios Papaligouras of Greece on Wednesday.
Cicek told reporters, ''two countries cooperate intensively in recent years. This has countless benefits for both countries.''
''We have exchanged views regarding legal cooperation between two countries. We have also discussed how two countries can cooperate in training of judges,'' added Cicek.
Greek Minister Papaligouras said, ''we took up how two countries can cooperate in legal area. Greece, as an EU member, can convey its experiences on technical issues to Turkey.''
''Greece supports Turkey's EU membership. Turkey's EU membership necessitates adoption of legal issues as well,'' he added.
When asked about the content of their view exchange in legal issues, Cicek said, ''we have discussed technical issues regarding execution of punishments of Turkish citizens in Greek prisons besides their arrest or extradition. Officials of Justice Ministries of two countries will discuss these issues and decrease bureaucratic procedures.''
When asked on which technical areas will Greece convey its experiences to Turkey, Cicek said, ''this cooperation will be made through ombudsmen. The EU supports the project. The preference will be used in favor of Greece regarding ombudsman issue. A cooperation may also be made on academicians level.''
Answering the same question, Papaligouras said, ''cooperation is necessary also in fight against organized crimes like illicit drug trafficking and terrorism.''
''Cooperation should be made with candidate countries as well in these issues. The cooperation in legal area between two countries will have good results,'' added Papaligouras.
When asked his evaluations about changes in legal area which Turkey has made in the process of full membership to the EU, Papaligouras said, ''what is seen in the whole Europe is that there is an innovative development in Turkey today. This development shortens Turkey's EU membership process. The process of full membership to the EU necessitates adoption of its law as well. This means combining national law with international law.''