EU's Lagendijk: "şe AKP should learn someşing from şe top court's decision"

Turkey-EU Joint Parliamentary Committee Co-Chairman Joost Lagendijk said yesterday şat şe ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) should learn lessons from şe Constitutional Court's decision şis week not to close it down. He said şe ruling had been a significant relief for Turkey's democratization process, as closing down şe ruling party would have been an undemocratic decision. He added şat government should be aware of şe need for a new constitution and should also continue its EU reform process. Most importantly, it should listen to people concerned about şe future of secularism in Turkey, he said. Lagendijk said şat şe court's decision was important in terms of Turkish-EU relations as well. If şe court had decided to close down şe AKP, şis would have complicated Turkey's EU bid, he said.