TURKEY EUROPE FUTURE FORUM MEMBERS AND ALUMNI VISIT PRESIDENT DURAKOĞLU

Bringing together young leaders from Turkey and Europe to enable them to benefit from extensive exchange of ideas and to strengthen their ability to act across sectors, Turkey Europe Future Forum alumni paid a visit to Istanbul Bar Association to meet with the President of Istanbul Bar Association  Atty. Mehmet Durakoğlu at 9.30 on Saturday, July 13, 2019. Board Member of Istanbul Bar Association Atty. Sinan Naipoğlu also attended the meeting.

The delegation consisting of Carolina Drüten, Deniz Ova, Iulia-Alexandra Oprea, Laura Batalla Adam, Lenz Jacobsen, Marc Schneider, Meltem Ersoy, Muhammed Yılmaz, Nienke van Heukelingen, Özge Zihnioğlu, Timothy Reno, Urszula Wozniak, Annkatrin Kaier, Sophie Rau and Zeynep Sanigök was also accompanied by Atty. Tuğçe Duygu Köksal,  Chair of Human Rights Center of Istanbul Bar Association.

During the meeting with the delegation being in Turkey for an alumni workshop on “Turkey and the EU: Overcoming Common Challenges and Dual Tensions”, current situation of Turkey-EU relations was discussed  President Durakoğlu informed the delegation on the deterioration in the judiciary in Turkey following the referendum in 2010 followed by the restructuring the judiciary, independence and impartiality of the judiciary in Turkey, developments in the aftermath of the failed coup attempt of July 15, state of emergency and governmental decrees that follow.  Highlighting on the vital importance of fair trial and access to justice, Durakoğlu said that the domestic legislation has been harmonized accordingly in the accession of Turkey to the European Union, but the political power is unable to put this into practice. He invited European countries to support Turkey for Chapters 23 and 24 to be opened up within the framework of Turkey-EU negotiations for accession. Having a well-rooted history of democracy, Turkey has no problems in terms of internalization of fundamental rights and freedoms, Durakoğlu said. He underlined that the political power in Turkey should be receptive to people’s demand to democracy and he also touched upon the vitality of freedom of opinion and expression as well as that of media in the sustainability of Turkey-EU relations.

Within the scope of Turkey Europe Future Forum, young leaders had visited Istanbul Bar Association to meet with President Durakoğlu and Vice-President Atty. Nazan Moroğlu on March 1, 2019.