Top state officials underline importance of rule of law and democracy

As part of his constitutional duty to ensure the regular and harmonious functioning of the organs of the state, President Abdullah Gul yesterday hosted a luncheon for the heads of the legislative, executive and judicial branches at the Foreign Ministry Residence in Ankara. In attendance were Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Deputy Premier Cemil Cicek, Constitutional Court Chief Justice Hasim Kilic, Supreme Court of Appeals Chief Justice Hasan Gerceker, Council of State head Mustafa Birden, Court of Accounts head Mehmet Damar, Court of Jurisdictional Disputes head Ahmet Akyalcin, Military High Court of Appeals head Ahmet Alkis, Military Supreme Administrative Court head Turgut Aribal and Mustafa İsen, the secretary-general of the president's office. Afterwards, a presidential statement said the top officials had exchanged views on issues related to their respective branches as well as regional and international developments in a sincere atmosphere. "It was emphasized at the meeting that the deepening of democracy, in line with the principle of the rule of law, as well as with basic principles, showing maximum care towards the implementation of procedural legal arrangements, will strengthen Turkey, and ease the overcoming of the challenges we face and enhance the atmosphere of public confidence," the statement said. It also said that president was planning to hold such meetings regularly, as all the participants had found it helpful.