7 March 2011 / TODAY’S ZAMAN, İSTANBUL
Prosecutors conducting the investigation into Ergenekon – a clandestine gang whose alleged members are accused of plotting to overthrow the government – have a right to detain suspects as they deem necessary, and the government cannot intervene in any way, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu has said.
Speaking at a joint press conference with his Swedish and Italian counterparts Carl Bildt and Franco Frattini at the Feriye Restaurant in İstanbul’s Ortaköy neighborhood on Saturday, Davutoğlu responded to questions from the press regarding the recent arrests of some journalists as part of the Ergenekon investigation. He said he recently shared his views on the arrests with EU officials in Brussels, and noted, in response to a question, that none of his counterparts yesterday had brought up the subject. Minister Davutoğlu said the government hoped that the investigation would be concluded as soon as possible. Sharing his impressions from his Brussel’s visit with journalists, Davutoğlu said that EU officials were not under the impression that journalists in Turkey were under pressure by the government.
