Top EU, US officials welcome court decision not to close AKP

EU Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn yesterday welcomed the Constitutional Court decision not to close down the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), and he called on Turkey to continue its rapid and determined reform process towards modernization. Saying he felt relieved at the court's decision, Turkey-EU Joint Parliament Committee Co-Chairman Joost Lagendijk said choosing to close down the AKP would have been an undemocratic decision incompatible with European values. Lagendijk also asked the AKP to take some lessons from the ruling, saying Turkey should continue to carry out reforms paving the way for its EU membership. Stressing that such reforms should start with a civilian and democratic constitution, Lagendijk said the current Constitution's provisions allowing the closure of political parties should be changed as soon as possible. Lagendijk also said that the AKP should act to address the fears and concerns of people who don't support it. Asked about the decision, US State Department spokesman Sean McCormack told reporters, "I would just repeat what we have said all along: that we have confidence in Turkey and confidence in the Turkish people and their democracy. We are going to continue to work with this government. We work quite well with them." He added, "We would also encourage Turkey to use this moment to reinvigorate its efforts with the EU. And I know that requires both sides, both the EU, to reinvigorate its efforts as well, to move forward on the basis of Turkey continuing its efforts at political and economic reform, based on Turkey 's Constitution and secular democracy."