Turk: Annulment Of Death Penalty Is An Arrangement Made To Broaden Freedoms

ANKARA (A.A) - 04.08.2002 - Justice Minister Hikmet Sami Turk said on Saturday, ''annulment of death penalty, and broadcasting and education in mother tongue are the arrangements made with the aim of broadening freedoms. No one should think that these arrangements will jeopardize national integrity and unitary structure of the state. We have taken necessary measures to prevent them.''
Turk held a press conference at the Justice Ministry before leaving his office in accordance with the Constitution after parliament's decision on holding early elections on November 3, 2002.
''I submitted a petition and informed Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit on my resignation. I thanked him for his support to the judicial reform. Justice Ministry submitted 36 drafts laws to the parliament and to the Council of Ministers during the 21st legislative period. Important arrangements were made in the constitutional amendment package in order to broaden democratic rights and freedoms and to protect human rights and minorities. As you know, our parliament has approved the European Union (EU) reforms package. The package is of great importance in regard to Turkey's full membership to the EU,'' he said.
Turkey noted, ''this package has solved some serious problems. The package has opened a new page in Turkey's democratization process. Turkey has taken an important and determined step on the path leading to the EU full membership.''
''Right of broadcasting and education in mother tongue cannot be against the Republic of Turkey's basic rules and principles and characteristics mentioned in the Constitution and against the principle of 'the state's indivisible integrity with its country and nation'. Supreme Board of Radio and Television (RTUK) will inspect the broadcastings while National Education Ministry will control the courses. No one should think that these arrangements will jeopardize national integrity and unitary structure of the state. We have taken necessary measures to prevent them,'' he said.
Referring to the issue of F-type prisons, Turk told reporters, ''F-type prisons have solved an important problem in our country. Prisons were used to be referred with uprising, murder and attempts to flee in the past. Now, they have become centers of exhibitions, theatre plays, concerts and other social activities. Meanwhile, Istanbul needs more prisons. There are currently 7 prisons in Turkey. One of every three crimes is committed in Istanbul. Therefore, at least 20 more prisons should be opened in Istanbul.''
Responding a question, Turk said, ''annulment of death penalty is an arrangement made with the aim of broadening democratic rights and freedoms. Efforts to broaden freedoms cannot be against the Constitution. I believe that Turkey will lift the death sentence completely in the future within the framework of the annexed protocol no: 13 of the European Convention of Human Rights.''
Turk said that Prof. Dr. Aysel Celikel, the former dean of Istanbul University Faculty of Law, would be appointed as the new justice minister.