Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

ANKARA: Turkey Needs New Constitution, Says Babacan

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • ANKARA: Turkey Needs New Constitution, Says Babacan

    TURKEY NEEDS NEW CONSTITUTION, SAYS BABACAN

    www.worldbulletin.net
    Dec 2 2008
    Turkey

    Turkish foreign minister said on Tuesday that Turkey could not proceed
    on its way with the current constitution.

    Turkish Foreign Minister and Chief Negotiator for EU Talks Ali Babacan
    arrived in the Belgian capital of Brussels to attend the NATO foreign
    ministers' meeting.

    Holding a press conference in Brussels, Babacan said Georgian-Russian
    relations after the recent clashes in Georgia as well as NATO
    membership processes of Georgia and Ukraine would be on the agenda
    of the two-day meeting.

    Commenting on Turkey's EU negotiation process, Babacan said chapters
    on the "free movement of capital" and "information society & media"
    were expected to be opened to negotiation during France's rotating
    presidency of the EU.

    "Our reform process does not depend on the opening or closure of
    chapters," Babacan said, stating that reforms improving the life
    standards of the public would be implemented step by step.

    Babacan said there were currently 30 draft laws on EU, all waiting
    to be discussed by the Turkish parliament.

    Babacan also said that the EU process was "essential" for the Turkish
    economy and macro-economic stability. "EU reforms are the guarantee
    of Turkey's long-term political stability," he said.

    Upon a question on the studies for the preparation of a civil
    constitution, Babacan said that Turkey needed a comprehensive
    constitutional amendment.

    "This is the truth and we should accept it. Turkey cannot proceed on
    its way forever with the current constitution. If we try to continue,
    there will be frequent accidents and problems," he said.

    Commenting on the rising tension between India and Pakistan after
    the recent terrorist attacks as well, Babacan said "more attention
    should be paid" to the relations between the two countries in the
    upcoming period.

    Following the NATO foreign ministers' meeting, Babacan is expected
    to meet with EU Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn.

    Babacan, who will later proceed to the Finnish capital of Helsinki
    to attend the ministerial meeting of the Organization for Security
    and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), will also hold separate talks with
    his Azerbaijani and Armenian counterparts.
Working...
X