OUR GOVERNMENT IS THE GUARDIAN OF FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION

Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis said "We attach greater importance to the freedom of press in Turkey than anyone else. There would be no democracy in a country where the press is not free. A country with no democracy cannot make serious demands to the EU. However, being a member of the press doesn't give anyone the right to commit a crime.

Paying a visit to Washington, USA, Minister Bagis met with Texas Republican Pete Sessions at the House of Representatives, and with the Congress Working Group on Turkey.

Bagis answered the questions of the press after the dinner, and indicated that the recent detainment of journalists within the scope of "Ergenekon" investigation was also addressed in the meeting.

Bagis stated that everyone had to wait now for the Ergenekon indictment to be revealed and that the evidence had to be evaluated accordingly, and added:

"Our Prime Minister has also stressed this fact, and we mention it on every occasion. It is our duty to protect people whose freedom of expression is restricted due to their professions. The AK Party Government is the strongest guarantee for the Turkish press, and freedom of press and expression. However, being a member of the press doesn't give the right to commit a crime.

There is an ongoing judicial process in Turkey. The prosecutor intending to detain those journalists, and the judge approving that intention are both members of independent Turkish jurisdiction. In their own declarations, they have indicated that those detainments had nothing to do with their professions, but were based on some other evidence."

Source: AA