Justice Minister: Turkey Is Obliged To Implement Decision Taken By E.C.H.R.

ISTANBUL - Justice Minister Aysel Celikel said on Monday, ''on the contrary of the expressions in the Progress Report, Turkey is fulfilling its commitments to implement the decision taken by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).''
Speaking at a ceremony held to mark the beginning of 2002-2003 semester at Maltepe University, Celikel said, ''there are judicial protection mechanisms and laws protecting rights and freedoms in Turkey. However, there are some deficiencies in these laws.''
''Turkey has launched a serious initiative in regard to these laws. We may criticize judiciary from time to time. We may say that judiciary has politicized and taken a wrongful decision. But we should remember that judiciary applies the existing legal rules.''
Celikel said that democracy, human rights and supremacy of law constituted the basis of the legal and political regime in the modern democratic world, adding that the law of the European Union (EU) which was founded in 1958 developed significantly since that date.
Celikel said that human rights and democracy in EU develop continuously and that Turkey took its place in this context, adding that ''Turkey is a member of the Council of Europe for 50 years and it is one of the countries which adopted the European Convention on Human Rights. Turkey also recognized the jurisdiction of the European Court of Human Rights. Thus, implementing the decisions given by the ECHR is the obligation of Turkey. Turkey fulfills this obligation although this fact is not accepted much by the EU Progress Report. There are only one or two court decisions which were not implemented by Turkey, as these decisions were about political conflicts which have not been solved.
Paying compensation to ECHR decisions is not the solution of the problem. The target is the creation of a joint law in Europe. Targets of Council of Europe and EU are the same. Europe is a joint place of law. Turkey will contribute to that place like the other countries.
Justice Minister Celikel said Turkey has to adjust its regulations and law in line with the court decisions, yet stressed that it was late in this respect.
Pointing out that very small changes were made so far, Celikel said, ''the actual changes are the laws made in the recent 2-2,5 years. History will record this and they will never be forgotten.''
Celikel said Turkey was on the way to unite its own principles with the principles adopted by EU and ECHR, stressing that re-structuring was the assignment of the government and the Parliament.
Celikel said that she could note that law reached the place it deserved in that country despite the politicians who stated that 'they considered law as an obstacle.'
Importance attributed to law would increase each passing day, Celikel noted.
Celikel said that three constitutional amendments were made since the end of 1999 and three legal packages including European Union (EU) adjustment laws were adopted in 2002.
''I can say that Turkey, parliament, Turkish judicial system and Turkish society is in a reform process,'' Celikel stated.
Celikel added that implementation of laws were of importance.