I am most honoured that my friend and mentor, Professor Dr. R. Aybay, has offered me the opportunity to prepare a forevvord to this most interesting and stimulating work.

As its title suggests, this book deals with the basics of law, though it also contains many elements drawn from legal theory and philosophy.

Who will this book be important? I see many different groups ofreaders who should be interested. The book is, ofcourse, highly relevant and useful for nevvcomers to the law. Here they will read and learn about the important principles of law. But it will also be valuable for experienced lavvyers who everyso often wish to return to the basics, the sources as it were, and to measure their concepts of the law with these basic considerations. Given the vast field oflaw, it is fascinating -and indeed reassuring- to see that certain basic principles apply to ali fields of law. İn addition, I believe that this book will provide stimulating reading for laypersons who wish to see what 'law is ali about.

I wish this vvonderful text the success which it duly and truly deserves.

Prof. Dr. Mark VILLIGER
Judge at the European Court of Human Rights

This book will give motivated students a good taste of the many varieties and forms of law, as vvell as a basic understanding of the functions, origins and foundations of legal systems, national and International.

John DARCY
Registry, European Court of Human Rights