Deputy PM says reactions against Ergenekon verdict 'emotional'

ANKARA - Hürriyet

Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç commented on the Ergenekon trial verdict during a press conference following a cabinet meeting in Ankara, Aug. 5.

The reactions against the court's verdict on the Ergenekon trial are “emotional,” Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç said Aug. 5 during a press conference after a Cabinet meeting in Ankara. Arınç added that the government "could not have an opinion" on the rulings.

"Nobody has the privilege of commiting crimes. We are not people who are going to be happy about anybody's arrest. But there is a court ruling and everyone should respect it. I consider the criticism from suspects and their relatives as emotional, rather," Arınç said, noting that the defense lawyers would eventually appeal the decision.

"No doubt the rulings will be appealed and examined at the Supreme Court. We can't talk about a definitive ruling, but we are in an important phase," he said.

"It might be said that some rulings against suspects are too heavy... We are not at a point to like or dislike the ruling. Even if we like it or not, we are obliged to conform to it. There is nothing more to say than to [express sympathy]."

Arınç also slammed Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu's description of the verdict as "illegitimate."

"These words are over the line. No politician can accuse the courts with such harsh words," he said.

Responding to a journalist’s question about Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's statement that he could not accept the charges accusing former Chief of General Staff  Gen. İlker Başbuğ of leading a "terrorist organization," Arınç said the decision proved the court made an independent judgment.

"It is natural that the prime minister expressed his sadness about the chief of General Staff with whom he worked. I, personally, said I expected to see the detained deputies in Parliament. But it can be seen that the court is not bound to what we say and decides with its own conscience," Arınç said.

"The statements we made about individuals are not a justification for the court. We might express our feelings. It should not be expected that the court accept it as it is," he added.

'Verdict shows Ergenekon exists,' EU Minister retweets

Meanwhile, EU Minister Egemen Bağış retweeted a message from Ertan Aydın, a political scientist who is also an adviser of the prime minister, saying the verdict showed the esixtence of a secret shadowy network called Ergenekon. Bağış's retweet was the first reaction of a cabinet member after the court's announcement of the rulings.

“It has been proved that Ergenekon exists and attempted to overthrow a legitimate government. Let’s see now those who defended them then!” Aydın had tweeted.