GUL: ''THE DEFENSE AT HEARING OF SAHIN WAS THE VIEW OF GOVERNMENT''
ANKARA (AA) - ''The defense made on behalf of Turkey during the hearing of Leyla Sahin at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) was prepared according to the position of the Turkish government,'' said Turkish Foreign Minister & Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul.
Gul met Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation Minister Raymond Ramazani Baya of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Following the meeting, Gul and Baya held a joint news conference.
Sahin filed a lawsuit at the ECHR against Turkey in 1998 affirming that her freedom of thought, conscience and religion was violated since she was prohibited from wearing the Islamic headscarf at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Istanbul. On the other hand Gul indicated that the handshaking between Turkish Premier Erdogan and Greek Cypriot leader Tasos Papadopoulos in Moscow should not be viewed as a ''meeting''.
Gul stressed that the Democratic Republic of the Congo is one of Africa's most prominent countries. ''The Democratic Republic of the Congo has a population of over 60 million people. We pay high attention to this republic in the year of Africa,'' told Gul. Gul informed journalists that the Democratic Republic of the Congo supports Turkey's bid to become a temporary member of the UN Security Council.
According to Gul, the Turkish Cooperation & Development Administration is now very active in African continent. ''Both Premier Erdogan and I will continue official visits to African nations in the near future,'' added Gul.
Minister Baya, on the other hand, stated that Gul and he discussed new opportunities in air and sea transportation between the two countries. ''I have invited Gul to the Democratic Republic of the Congo,'' expressed Baya.
(UK-SOL-ULG)
2005-05-18