President Gul receives EU talks ne gotiator bagis

President Abdullah Gul yesterday received newly appointed chief European Union talks negotiator post Egemen Bagis, who was paying a courtesy visit. The two reportedly discussed recent developments in Turkey's EU membership process.

No one can act to manipulate the judiciary, said Supreme Court of Appeals Chief Justice Hasan Gerceker yesterday. Speaking to Star daily, Gerceker underlined the importance of dialogue for solving problems. Touching on critical remarks by officials of the Judges and Prosecutors Association (YARSAV) and the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) in the wake of recent detentions and arrests under the ongoing Ergenekon probe, he called for calm and dialogue on all sides. Discouraging any comments on the probe, he added, "Such comments can be misinterpreted. The judiciary can solve all its problems by itself." Pointing also to the court's heavy workload, he stated that the judiciary needs comprehensive reform.