"There can be no just development unless the rule of law is applied" Mitsotakis says, ABTTF President agrees
ABTTF President: "I agree with Mr. Mitsotakis that it is not possible to create a just society, just development and equal democracy unless the rule of law is applied as a whole. Our country Greece must put an end to the violation of our freedom of association and implement the judgments of the ECtHR immediately and fully."
Prime Minister of our country Greece, Kiryakos Mitsotakis, made a statement on 25 June 2024 regarding the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) report titled "Implementation of the Anti-Bribery Convention Phase 4 Report Two-Year Written Follow-up Report: Greece" on 25 June 2024, he said that there cannot be a fair development as long as the rule of law is not applied.
Mitsotakis pointed out that 38 of the 49 recommendations made to Greece in the OECD report, which evaluates the progress made in many topics, including the fight against corruption, freedom of the press, public health, and the challenges of climate change, have been implemented and said that they are moving in the right direction.
Mitsotakis stated that the OECD report confirms their belief that we cannot talk about the fair development of the economy without a correct, fast functioning rule of law, institutions, laws and justice based on international standards. In this respect, Mitsotakis said that in Greece's quest to become an internationally attractive economy, the legal and political initiatives taken to improve the rule of law are correct.
ABTTF President Halit Habip Oğlu said: "We find the statement of our Prime Minister Mr Mitsotakis that there cannot be a fair development unless the rule of law is rapidly implemented very important. We know that the rule of law is the guarantee of democracy and human rights in a country. I would like to remind you that the OECD report recommends further strengthening the Charter of Ethics for judges and prosecutors in civil and criminal justice and the Code of Ethics for members of government, emphasising the true independence of the judiciary from the executive. In this regard, in the three cases of violation of our freedom of association, known as the Bekir Usta group of cases, our country has been waiting for 16 years for the ECtHR judgements to be implemented, but our country has persistently not implemented these judgements and has taken steps to prolong the process. I agree with Mr Mitsotakis that it is not possible to create a just society, a just development and an equal democracy unless the rule of law is applied as a whole. For this reason, I reiterate our tireless call that our country Greece must put an end to the violation of our freedom of association and implement the ECtHR judgements immediately and fully."
