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Ankara: New Legislative Year Kicks Off

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  • Ankara: New Legislative Year Kicks Off

    NEW LEGISLATIVE YEAR KICKS OFF

    Hurriyet Daily News
    Wednesday, September 30, 2009

    The Kurdish and Armenian initiatives begun by the ruling Justice and
    Development Party, or AKP, government will remain among the top agenda
    items of the Parliament

    With the start of the Parliament's new legislative Thursday, the
    Kurdish and Armenian initiatives begun by the ruling Justice and
    Development Party, or AKP, government will remain among the top agenda
    items for Parliament.

    The body will be preoccupied with a heavy agenda in the new year
    after it opens with an address from President Abdullah Gul.

    The Parliamentary General Assembly convenes at 3 p.m. and will
    be chaired by Speaker of Parliament Mehmet Ali Å~^ahin. In his
    address, Gul is expected to mention the Kurdish initiative and
    Turkey's relations with Armenia, highlighting the importance of the
    normalization of relations between the two countries. Å~^ahin, who will
    chair the general assembly for the first time as the speaker tonight,
    will also hold a reception marking the opening of the new legislative
    year. The invitation cards normally carry the name of the couple who
    made the invitation, yet this year's cards included only Mehmet Ali
    Å~^ahin's name, and not that of his wife.

    It is also remains to be seen whether the Chief of General Staff and
    the military commanders will attend the opening ceremony. Military
    commanders have not attended the opening of Parliament since 2007
    - except a session in which U.S. President Barack Obama made an
    address during his visit to Turkey. Sources attribute the absence
    of the military in the parliament to the presence of the pro-Kurdish
    Democratic Society Party, or DTP, in the body.

    Parliamentary authorization for cross-border operation

    The fate of the Kurdish initiative will be determined by a
    parliamentary decision. The discussions on whether the parliamentary
    sessions on the Kurdish move should be open or closed sessions were
    clarified when Turkish Prime Minister R at they would be 'open.' The
    Kurdish initiative is expected to be discussed in Parliament on
    opening day. Interior Minister BeÅ~_ir Atalay, the coordinator of
    the government's Kurdish initiative, will provide information on the
    issue while the opposition parties also plan to share their opinion
    on the matter.

    Among the issues to be handled by Parliament in October is the
    arrangement that allows children to be tried for throwing stones at
    police or chanting illegal slogans in favor of the outlawed Kurdistan
    Workers' Party, or PKK, at street demonstrations. Such matters will
    also be discussed in connection with the decisions of the European
    Court of Human Rights, or ECHR.

    Parliament will also discuss the authorization that is set to expire
    on Oct. 17 that has permitted the military to conduct cross-border
    incursions into northern Iraq for a period of one year. The decision to
    extend for another year is not expected to be approved by Parliament
    until Oct. 6. Furthermore, the assembly will also discuss the laws
    that will be presented before Parliament in relation to Kurdish
    initiative during this period.

    Armenian move

    The parliament's second top priority agenda item is the Armenian
    initiative. The protocols initialized by Turkey and Armenia are
    expected to be brought to Parliament for discussion this month. The
    AKP plans to discuss the issue in Parliament ahead of the national
    football match between Turkey and Armenia on Oct. 14.

    Presidential election

    The adjustment law to the constitutional amendment that stipulates the
    election of the president by public vote or referendum also remains
    on the agenda for the upcoming month. The amendment clarifies the
    methodology and timetable of the election.

    Flood disaster

    The main opposition Republican People's Party, or CHP's, demand to
    discuss the flood disaster in Istanbul in Parliament will also be
    brought up in the coming weeks.

    Budget and economy laws

    The Parliament will handle some laws that include economic arrangements
    concerning the budget in Oct Commercial Law as well as a draft on
    the Code of Obligations.

    Okay's situation

    The CHP, meanwhile, will conduct the election for the post of deputy
    leader for the parliamentary group. It is not certain whether the
    current parliamentary group deputy leader Hakkı Suha Okay, whose
    brother's name has been associated with drug crime, will announce
    his candidacy for the post again.
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