Erdogan: "I don't believe our party will be closed down"

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday returned from a visit to Qatar. During his visit, he told Al Jazeera television, "The closure of the AKP (the ruling Justice and Development Party) is a remote possibility. I don't believe that our party will be shut down. Because we didn't commit any offense that would cause this result." He added that the AKP has consistently carried out its responsibilities in line with constitutional principles. Speaking later about proposed changes to Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK), Erdogan told reporters, "The government's efforts to amend Article 301 can't be regarded as an imposition by the EU," adding that evaluation of the proposed changes is continuing.