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President GÃ¼l warns against intervention in judicial process

03 January 2014 21:05 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. Turkish President Abdullah Gül emphasizes importance of conclusion of a major graft investigation, which has shaken the roots of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) and has led to resignation of three ministers, without outside intervention.

Gül has underlined independence of judiciary as the investigation into the alleged bribery and tender rigging proceeds, warning against outside moves that could influence direction of the probe. He stressed that corruption and fraud can not be covered up in today's world and any move to derail the probe will backfire, APA reports quoting Today’s Zaman .

He also dismissed any link between Gezi protests and the recent corruption scandal. While Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip ErdoÄŸan says the recent corruption investigation that involves four ministers and high-level officials is continuation of last summer's Gezi Park protests and aimed at toppling his government, Turkish President has said he sees no link between Gezi protests and the recent graft probe that has shaken the government so far today.

Speaking at a televised program aired at HaberTürk TV on Friday evening, Gül emphasized that there is no link between Gezi Park protests, which erupted in June over government's plan to redevelop the park by construction of a replica of Ottoman-era barracks, and recent corruption case.

"These are two different incidents and there is no way to link them," he said, implying a disagreement with government's much repeated narrative that links the graft probe with the Gezi protests.

Gül declined to comment on a Syria-bound truck which was stopped by Turkish gendarmes on suspicion of arms shipment in the southern province of Hatay on Wednesday.

He said he was told by officials that the truck was carrying humanitarian aid to Syria's Turkmens. Gül also underlined importance of compliance of legal norms and transparency even when it comes to national security in response to a question. The issue of truck was labeled as a 'state secret'.

President Gül also declined to comment on general amnesty for the terrorist Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militants amid recent flare-up of discussions as part of settlement process aimed at ending three-decades old Kurdish disptute and armed struggle.

The PKK declared cease-fire last year and withrew some of its forces to its camps in northern Iraq. The terroist group demands general amnesty for its militants as part of the process, which it views will pave way for PKK members' return to their home and society.

As to the unfolding debate over switch to presidential form of government before or after next presidential election by 2014 summer, an issue which was raised by Prime Minister ErdoÄŸan on a number of occasions, Gül said he favors parliamentary system, citing historical experience of the Turkish political system.