RIZE
Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Besir Atalay said that there could be some issues that upset people in ‘Ergenekon’ trial, adding "What is important here is to be fair, to entirely fulfill the requirement of law. And justice has done it."
Ergenekon is a secret "terror" organization according to the verdict given last week. The defendants were accused of plotting to overthrow of elected government and many, including a chief of staff received life sentences.
Atalay went to eastern Black Sea for Eid al Fitr holiday, visiting Ayder upland in northern province of Rize.
Atalay in an interview here with Anadolu Agency, said "I do not exactly talk about judicial decisions with my law background. I am extremely sensitive. There can be issues that upset everybody, but the key issue is the realization of justice. Being fair is important, to entirely fulfill the requirement of law. And justice has done it. In addition, we should not make any evaluation except these statements. Everybody should consent when justice appears, as long as the verdict is not injustice and inequity. Also, the process has not finished yet."
The deputy PM also evaluated the verdict about Former Chief of General Staff Gen. Ilker Basbug who was sentenced life in prison and said, "We worked with Basbug at national security council in the same period. We had a cooperation with him in struggling with terrorism. This verdict can annoy him and the people around him, however this is a legal affair. Realization of justice is above everything."
Atalay also mentioned about "the solution process," an initiative to end terrorism and solve the Kurdish issue and said Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan was also working for the process. He stated that a committee under his chairmanship had worked on a package of bills on democratization for hours during Ramadan (fasting-month) in order to launch it before the upcoming fall. This package was not only about the solution process, but also a wide package which concerned every citizen in Turkey with many steps of democratization, said Atalay.
Atalay also added, "We have been working on bills that will be inclusive so far. We'll have a package of democratization on the (AK Party) congress on September 30, 2013 and the year of 2023 is our vision. We are now working on an inclusive package emphasizing on this vision."
