In an effort to encourage discussion on how the media views the European Union and Turkey’s bid for accession the Delegation of the European Commission to Turkey held the 16th EU-Turkey Journalists’ Conference at Sabanci University yesterday.

Turkish and foreign reporters discussed and answered questions on issues ranging from Cyprus and Kosovo to how the headscarf issue is perceived, and Turkey’s economy vis a vis the EU.

A delegation led by Ahmet Türk, the DTP’s parliamentary group deputy leader, visited President Abdullah Gül yesterday and Parliament Speaker Köksal Toptan late Monday to express the party’s unease with the situation.

According to Türk, the judiciary ignores the DTP deputies’ right to immunity and continues to prosecute them without waiting for a waiver from Parliament. Turkish lawmakers who enjoy broad immunity rights are exempted from any prosecution unless Parliament lifts his or her immunity. Many DTP deputies face legal proceedings over their statements on the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and its imprisoned chieftain Abdullah Öcalan.