Baykal: "Turkey's current condition belies govt claims of democratic reforms"

Back in Turkey after a trip to Brussels, main opposition Republican People Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal yesterday told reporters that his party supports Turkey's European Union accession bid but under the current government, which claims to have carried out many democratic reforms to this end, the people, media and the judiciary do not feel freer, safer or more independent. "The media now feels more political pressure than seven years ago and doesn't feel free," he added. "The situation of the country paints a paradoxical picture of Turkey that needs to be questioned."