MINISTER BAGIS ATTENDED THE FUNERAL CEREMONY OF THE MARTYRED CHIEF OF POLICE

A ceremony was held at the Police Department location on Vatan Street for the Chief Police Officer Semih Balaban who was martyred during Bostancı operation.

Speaking at the ceremony, Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis reminded that the previous day, he, along with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan had visited the families of Semih Balaban and civillian Mazlum Seker who were martyred during the operation and the wounded people at the hospital, saying "The determined and resolute eyes we observed in our visit indicated once more that no one can prejudice and damage the togetherness, unity and brotherhood of this country."

Bagis stated that Abdulkadir Aksu and he attended the ceremony as the National Security Council was being held today.

Emphasizing that they had experienced a great pain, Bagis said they bowed respectfully before the degree of martyrdom which embodies Turkey's unity, respectability, prestige and power.

Bagis continued his speech as follows:

"According to our beliefs to reach to martyrdom, the second degree after prophecy won't be able to be vouchsafed to everyone. Semih, a brother of ours, has ascended to that degree at an early age. We will certainly pass away one day. We bow with respect before our brother who died for his own land and became a martyred to leave a brighter Turkey for next generations. May God have mercy on him and I wish the wounded a speedy recovery."

Emphasizing that Turkish police always try compassion as the first means, as do the Turkish army, Bagis said that they first tried compassion again in yesterday's operation with the call to surrender. However, afterwards, they reacted similarly to the betrayer who opposed with gun, bomb and weapon.

Bagis pointed out that the taking up of arms was the last means when the required reaction wasn't given to compassion.

Egemen Bagis, Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator, General Ergin Saygun, First Army Commander, Oguz Kagan Koksal, Director General of Security, Abdulkadir Aksu, Deputy Chairman of the AKP, Muammer Guler, Istanbul Governor, Kadir Topbas, Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor, Celalettin Cerrah, Security Director, Aykut Cengiz Engin, Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor, Zekeriya Oz, Public Prosecutor conducting the investigation into Ergenekon, CHP MP Gursel Tekin , Mehmet Agar and the members of law enforcement attended the ceremony as well as Fatma Balaban, mother of the martyred Chief Police Officer, and his friends and relatives.

Resource: AA