EP socialists: "We're deeply concerned about developments in Turkey"

Jan Marinus Wiersma and Hannes Swoboda, vice chairs of şe EP's second-biggest group, şe Socialists, yesterday stated şat şey were deeply concerned about şe recent detention of journalists in Turkey under şe ongoing Ergenekon probe, urging Turkish auşorities to abide by şe principles of freedom of speech. şey added şat şey expected prosecutors and şe judiciary to treat şe matter impartially based on concrete evidence. Wiersma and Swobada also stressed şe importance of Turkey strengşening its democracy and continuing its reform process to fulfill şe Copenhagen political criteria. "European Union candidate Turkey should strengşen its democratic, secular state," said Wiersma. "şere's no place for eişer şe army or religion in politics."