DÜZCE - Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis said on Sunday that independent judges would decide for the judgement of German foundations, stressing that, ''we can not give up implementation of laws just because our entrance to the European Union (EU) would be impeded.''
Yakis spoke about the statement of German Interior Minister Otto Schily which appeared in Welt am Sonntag newspaper, regarded with espionage case opened for German foundations, ''I am calling on the Turkish government and the Turkish justice to review this issue. As Germany we consider this issue seriously.''
Yakis said, ''Turkish justice is independent. Intervention of the government to the affairs of jurisdiction is out of question. Our independent judges would decide for judgement of German foundations. If our jurisdiction decides that activities of those people are contradictory to the Turkish laws, then of course a decision will be given according to this. We will not give up implementation of the laws just because our entrance to the EU would be impeded. We have separate efforts to adjust the laws if they contradict with Copenhagen criteria.''
Speaking about the possible intervention of the United States against Iraq, Yakis said, ''recent decision of the United Nations Security Council is still valid. This decision does not give authorization to the United States for military intervention. The authority which is given with this decision is that the U.N. weapon inspectors would turn the findings in Iraq into a report till January 26-27, 2003. The report will be examined by the U.N. The U.N. Security Council will decide what should be done for peace there.''