Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

The fifth “Constitution Citizen Meeting”, organized under the secretariat of TEPAV on behalf of the Constitution Platform, formed by TOBB and many professional and civil society organizations, was held in İzmir.

The meeting which took place in Culture Park İzmir International Fair Ground was attended by TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, Speaker of the Parliament Cemil Çiçek, Parliament Constitution Negotiation Commission’s AKP, CHP, MHP and BDP members, Constitution Platform Members, local and national NGO representatives and randomly selected citizens.

- The most interest and the highest number of women attendees in İzmir

TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu said that he had been told ‘People in İzmir won’t attend a meeting on Sunday,’, “But as you can see, we have garnered the largest attendance in İzmir.” According to Hisarcıklıoğlu, the most number of women attending was also to be found in İzmir.

Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that they had all come together for work on the Constitution regardless of their differing world views.

“We all share the same feelings regarding the future of this country,” said Hisarcıklıoğlu and emphasized that that everyone is of a mind when the matter is about the future Turkey.

Stating that much has changed in Turkey in the last 30 years, TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “However, some things are obstructing progress. The driver is the best but has access only to an old model car. The thing that will help us the most is the new constitution.”

- “This time the people will speak and the experts will write it up”

Reminding that up until today all constitution work has been done by experts, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “This time the people will speak and the experts will write it up. If this is to be the constitution of the 74 million, then we must know what the citizen thinks.”

Stating that they hold “Turkey Speaks” meetings as the Constitution Platform, Hisarcıklıoğlu said that they have integrated NGOs to the process as well. Saying that the council has adopted the understanding that “the tailor for the people should be the people,” Hisarcıklıoğlu went on:

“We want Turkey to talk. We will see just how much we have in common once we talk. We have nothing to hide from each other. We all have a common passion: Turkey. Citizen Meetings will put forth the shared feeling of Turkey. For the first time in Turkey, participatory democracy will truly take place. We are not writing up the new constitution. What we are trying to do is determine how our citizens view issues and relay these views to the Constitution Negotiation Commission.”

Stating that the new constitution would be one that focuses on the individual; excludes all discrimination; strives to realize the ideal of equality in all fields of social life; enables individuals to benefit from rights and freedoms on a universal standard; is democratic and maintains the principles of secular state and rule of law, the TOBB President said that everyone should contribute to this process no matter what their political views are.

- Platform members

Members of the Constitution Platform attending the meeting in İzmir were: 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).

- Speaker of the Parliament Cemil Çiçek

The Speaker of the Parliament Cemil Çiçek said, “We want to prepare a constitution that will ensure our future. I believe that we will receive the biggest contribution to the process of crafting a new constitution from these meetings. We value these meetings and your ideas highly and find them to provide guidance to us.”

- Other speakers

Also making speeches during the meeting were AK Party İstanbul Representative Mustafa Şentop, CHP İzmir Representative Rıza Türmen, MHP Konya Representative Faruk Bal and BDP Diyarbakır Representative Altan Tan.

Afterwards, Hisarcıklıoğlu, Çiçek and the Platform members viewed the İzmir and the Expo Fair Grounds panorama from Crowne Plaza.
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