ID :
139565
Fri, 08/27/2010 - 21:55
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/139565
The shortlink copeid
LETTER FROM TURKEY'S CHIEF NEGOTIATOR TO WALL STREET JOURNAL
ANKARA (A.A) - 27.08.2010 - Turkish State Minister & Chief Negotiator for EU talks Egemen Bagis said on Friday that Turkey's constitutional amendment package was rightful step for its EU membership.
In his response to an article titled "Vote Pits Turkey's Premier Against Industries" on August 19 in the Wall Street Journal, Bagis said, "the constitutional amendment package is a much required step to extend individual rights and freedoms."
"It will liberate Turkey from the restrictions brought by a constitution that was created in the aftermath of a military coup in 1980. In fact, the constitutional amendments have been prepared in light of the Copenhagen political criteria of the European Union and are a major step in Turkey's accession to the EU," Bagis said.
In his letter Bagis said, "the package brings positive discrimination for women, children and the handicapped; provides individuals with the right to request the protection of their personal data; extends the labor rights of workers; establishes the ombudsman institution; limits the jurisdiction of the military courts; grants the right of individual applications to the Constitutional Court; ensures that both the Constitutional Court and Supreme Council of Judges and Prosecutors have a broad-based structure representing different segments of the society; and enables the Parliament to elect the members of the Constitutional Court."
The letter said, "despite the noise that you might be hearing from the old guard of the dark ages, the package neither aims to control the judiciary nor intends to crush any opposition. On the contrary, it aims to strengthen the democratic system with the necessary checks and balances, and to create a more liberal environment by extending individual rights and freedoms."
The letter said, "Greece, Spain and Portugal all became members of the European Community in the 1980s, following their liberation from dictatorships, by amending their constitutions inherited from the military regimes. Now it is Turkey's turn to do the right thing and to become a member of the EU."
In his response to an article titled "Vote Pits Turkey's Premier Against Industries" on August 19 in the Wall Street Journal, Bagis said, "the constitutional amendment package is a much required step to extend individual rights and freedoms."
"It will liberate Turkey from the restrictions brought by a constitution that was created in the aftermath of a military coup in 1980. In fact, the constitutional amendments have been prepared in light of the Copenhagen political criteria of the European Union and are a major step in Turkey's accession to the EU," Bagis said.
In his letter Bagis said, "the package brings positive discrimination for women, children and the handicapped; provides individuals with the right to request the protection of their personal data; extends the labor rights of workers; establishes the ombudsman institution; limits the jurisdiction of the military courts; grants the right of individual applications to the Constitutional Court; ensures that both the Constitutional Court and Supreme Council of Judges and Prosecutors have a broad-based structure representing different segments of the society; and enables the Parliament to elect the members of the Constitutional Court."
The letter said, "despite the noise that you might be hearing from the old guard of the dark ages, the package neither aims to control the judiciary nor intends to crush any opposition. On the contrary, it aims to strengthen the democratic system with the necessary checks and balances, and to create a more liberal environment by extending individual rights and freedoms."
The letter said, "Greece, Spain and Portugal all became members of the European Community in the 1980s, following their liberation from dictatorships, by amending their constitutions inherited from the military regimes. Now it is Turkey's turn to do the right thing and to become a member of the EU."
