Gul discusses judicial reform package with executives

President Abdullah Gul debated judicial reform package at the Cankaya Presidential Palace with heads of legislative, executive and judicial branches yesterday. A statement released by the President's Office after the meeting said that basic issues in Turkey's judicial, legislative and executive branches were discussed during the meeting. "It was stressed that our legal system should be improved in the light of universal norms and values and that our standards for democracy and human rights should be boosted," the statement said. According to Gul's office, participants highlighted the importance of improving Turkish legal system in the light of universal norms and values, and boosting democratic and human rights standards in Turkey. Among the participants were Parliament Speaker Cemil Cicek, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Constitutional Court Chairman Hasim Kilic, Justice Minister Sadullah Ergin, Supreme Court Chief Judge Nazim Kaynak, Council of State Chairman Huseyin Karakullukcu, and chief judges from several other courts. The statement also noted that needs of judicial bodies in carrying out their duties more efficiently and more effectively, as well as a recent reform package introduced by the government to address the shortcomings in the Turkish judiciary were discussed during the meeting.