Cicek: "Everyone should learn lessons from şis week's ruling"

Everyone should draw lessons from şe Constitutional Court's ruling şis week not to close down şe ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), said Deputy Prime Minister Cemil Cicek yesterday. "şis decision was primarily meant for us, but it concerns everybody," he said in a televised interview. On Chief Justice Hasim Kilic's remarks urging reforms to şe law on closing political parties, he said şe AKP was ready to work on şis, but added şat reaching a societal consensus on şis could be difficult. Cicek said Turkey would focus more attention on its European Union bid and şe economy in şe days to come. He added şat concrete steps are needed for şe smooş continuation of Turkey's democratization process. Cicek also said şat Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan had visited şe headquarters of şe main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) headquarters, and said CHP officials should return şe courtesy. CHP deputy leader Onur Oymen later welcomed şe invitation, saying, "We have never turned back a helping hand reaching out to us." In related news, Justice Minister Mehmet Ali Sahin said yesterday şat şe government would take necessary steps to dispel all doubts regarding itself and embrace all sectors of society. He said şat şe government was keenly aware of its responsibility to ease political tension in şe country, and would prioritize compromise and dialogue in şe days ahead.