Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

The third Citizens’ Constitution Meeting organized by the Constitution Platform, comprised of 13 professional organizations and NGOs including TOBB, was held in Edirne.

The meeting, held at the Ekmekçizade Ahmet Paşa Caravanserai Cultural Center, was attended by the TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, the Grand National Assembly (TBMM) Speaker Cemil Çiçek, TBMM Constitution Negotiation Commission’s AKP, CHP, MHP and BDP members, Constitution Platform members, local and national NGO representatives and citizens.

In his speech, Hisarcıklıoğlu emphasized that everyone in Turkey has been expressing the need for a new constitution for years. Stating that they have set themselves a goal for 2023, Hisarcıklıoğlu said that conditions must be appropriate in order to reach this goal.

Stating that these garments no longer fit, TOBB President said, “The tailor of the new garment should be the people.”

Saying that they want a constitution that focuses on the individual, excludes all kinds of racism, grants the right to benefit from universal and basic rights and freedoms to the individual, Hisarcıklıoğlu stated, “We want the same rights as those enjoyed by the people in developed countries.”

Relating that prior to the elections, all of the political parties in parliament promised the people a new constitution, the TOBB President said, “The people want a new constitution but the how we go about getting is also important. In this regard this has to be the people’s own constitution. We want a constitution agreed upon by the 74 million instead of the agreement of experts. That is why we want the new constitution to be formed through a process of participatory conference. The constitutional discussion process needs to transform into a platform where Turkey’s problems are discussed. This is why we are here with you.”

Reminding that Edirne was the Ottoman Empire’s capital, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “This is the place where negotiation, the mosque, the church, the synagogue are together in one city. Talk all you want today, this is the day for it. Speak all that is on your mind unreservedly. We want to get Turkey talking. That is why we are here.”

TOBB President thanked the Speaker of the Parliament Cemil Çiçek and the Constitution Negotiation Commission members for including citizens and NGOs in this process.

- TBMM Speaker Cemil Çiçek

TBMM Speaker Cemil Çiçek, stating that at the June 12th elections, all of the political parties vowed to make a new constitution and said, “As the political institution, this is our charge and we must fulfill it without procrastination and obstinacy within the year.”

Çiçek stated that they had come to listen to the ideas and requests of those attending.

- Constitution Platform Members

Members of the Constitution Platform are: Turkey Chambers of Agriculture Union (TZOB), Turkey Craftsmen and Artisans Confederation (TESK), Turkey Laborer Syndicates Confederation (TÜRK-İŞ), Turkey Employers’ Syndicates Confederation (TİSK), HAK Workers’ Syndicate Confederation (HAK-İŞ), Public Servants’ Syndicates Confederation (MEMUR-SEN), Turkey Public Administration Workers’ Syndicates Confederation (T.KAMU-SEN), Turkey Independent Accountants, Financial Consultants and Certified Public Accountants Chambers Union (TÜRMOB), Turkish Veterinarians Union (TVHB), Turkey Bar Associations Union (TBB), Turkey Travel Agencies Union (TÜRSAB), Turkey Notaries Union (TNB) and the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB).
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