Erdogan: "This ruling saved Turkey from injustice and ended uncertainty"

Commenting on the Constitutional Court ruling declining to close down his Justice and Development Party (AKP), Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday said the decision had saved not only the AKP but also Turkey from injustice. "Now our democracy doesn't have to live under a great shame," Erdogan told reporters at AKP party headquarters in Ankara . Erdogan said Turkey 's political, social and economic stability would benefit from the decision, and also said that all sectors and institutions of Turkey , and especially politicians, should work to prevent similar situations from happening again. He reaffirmed his party's determination to act towards this goal, adding that he believes Turkey 's democracy and legal system could emerge stronger from the closure case. Erdogan said that Turkey would continue going down the path of modernization laid out by Ataturk, which he said was also the path to European Union membership. "Our priority is to strengthen social peace, and no one should doubt that we will continue to embrace everyone, whatever their political creed," he said, adding that the AKP would never deviate from that course. Erdogan said the court's ruling had also ended an uncertainty hanging over Turkey . "With its decision, the court dispelled a serious uncertainty clouding Turkey 's way," he said. Erdogan said that his party had worked to turn the trial process into an opportunity to strengthen Turkey 's constitutional order, parliamentary democracy based on the separation of powers, and social peace. He said that the ruling party couldn't be expected to remain indifferent to a process that could damage political, social and economic stability and cause serious losses that would be difficult to recover from, and could harm unity and solidarity. "Acting with this responsibility, the AKP managed this process to avoid harming the people, and we're pleased that our nation has not been made to face heavy costs," Erdogan said. He again denied that the AKP had ever been the focal point of anti-secular acts, saying that it would continue preserving the fundamental principles of the republic.