ANKARA
Turkish European Union (EU) Minister and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis said on Tuesday that journalist and CHP Deputy Mustafa Balbay was released benefiting from the right to appeal to the Constitutional Court individually.
Evaluating Balbay's release as one of the most important steps taken under scope of EU reforms, Bagis said, "Balbay's release is enabled through the constitutional amendment package which was adopted in the September 12 referendum."
He added Balbay was freed benefiting from the right to appeal to the Constitutional Court individually.
Mustafa Balbay has been in prison more than four years. The case began in 2007 with the discovery of 27 hand grenades in a house in Istanbul.
Some of the country’s most prominent figures including former Chief of General Staff Ilker Basbug was detained and arrested, Republican People’s Party (CHP) deputies Mehmet Haberal and Mustafa Balbay and journalists, high-ranking military officials, have been jailed since then.
Balbay was one of the 275 suspects in the case, which is a combination of a number of separate filings over the so-called Ergenekon gang that allegedly aimed to topple the government.
-Turkey to use over €1 bln EU fund in 2014
Bagis also said on Tuesday that Turkey would use more than €1 billion EU fund in 2014 by the means of IPA-2 which the EU supports reforms in the 'enlargement countries' with financial and technical help.
Stating that Turkey's EU full membership process "is in full spate", Bagis likened the financial cooperation with EU to "a rapid transit system which will turn the long path of EU into a highway".
Turkish minister, indicating that the EU Ministry began the preparations of IPA-2 that would last from 2014 to 2020, said "When we consider EU fund amounted €4.5 billion for IPA-2 period, Turkey will use more than €1 billion EU fund in 2014."
The Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA) is the means by which the EU supports reforms in the 'enlargement countries' with financial and technical help.
The IPA funds build up the capacities of the countries throughout the accession process, resulting in progressive, positive developments in the region.
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