ANKARA - Constitutional Court Chairman Mustafa Bumin said on Thursday that political bans would affect negatively Turkey-European Union (EU) relations.
Bumin responded to the questions of the reporters.
Bumin said that some officials should not talk in every situation.
When recalled about Supreme Court of Appeals Chief Prosecutor Sabih Kanadoglu's statement that not only those who were sentenced in prison under Article 312/2 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK) but also murderers should not enter the parliament and asked if he agreed with this view, Bumin said, ''it is not appropriate to make statement on that issue as being the chairman of Constitutional Court. It is evaluated wrongly in public opinion. I cannot explain my views on that issue due to my post.''
When asked how he evaluates the political bans, he said, ''you should not want a statement on this issue from me. Because some statements can be evaluated wrongly.''
Responding to a question how political bans would affect the Turkey-EU relations, Bumin said, ''I think that it will affect negatively the relations between Turkey and EU. Political bans are not welcome in Europe.''
Stating that he considered positive the efforts to make amedments in laws in order to lift the political bans, ''I always say that the obstacles in front of freedom of thought and expression in Turkey have to be lifted. As Turkey accepted the jurisdiction of the European Court of Human Rights, Turkey must adjust its laws due to that. We must act more tolerantly.''
Upon questions of journalists about the statements of Chief Prosecutor Kanadoglu and about Article 312 of Turkish Penal Code, Bumin said that ''Turkey has important issues on its agenda. I think that people on certain posts should not speak much to the press. I don't want to make comment on these issues.''
Bumin said that the Constitutional Court will take up the HADEP case soon.