Finish press report Sezer's Trip to Finland cancelled

The Finish daily Helsingin Sanomat on Wednesday reported that according to "reliable sources", Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer cancelled his trip to Finland over the "strong reaction in Europe against the Istanbul demonstrations". The demonstrations made international news over the inhumane show of force used by the police against women in the pre-Women's Day marches. The reaction against the protests throughout Europe, comes at a time when Turkey is holding meetings with the European Enlargement Committee. As a result, Turkey has been criticized heavily over not implementing enough reforms on human rights. Both sides have denied these claims and put the cancelation down to "difficulties" with the program. Finnish presidential spokeswoman, Maria Romantschuk said, "There was a last minute problem with the program. It is no more dramatic than that." Turkish foreign ministry spokesman Namik Tan also said that there had been difficulties with the program and that Sezer's schedule was so busy, that the timing wasn't good. Finland starts its six-month rotating European Union presidency in July 2006. Â