Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

The eleventh “Constitution Citizens’ Meeting” was held in Gaziantep under the secretariat of TEPAV and the attendance of the civil society organizations congregating under the Constitution Platform.

The meeting held at the Gaziantep Middle East Fair Center was attended by TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, TBMM Speaker Cemil Çiçek, the TBMM Constitution Negotiation Commission’s AKP, CHP, MHP and BDP members, the Constitution Platform members, local and national NGO representatives and randomly selected citizens.

Stating that they are standing in one of the oldest cities in the world, a city that won hearts with their extraordinary resistance to British and French invasion, TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “The importance of this city is not limited to the War of Independence. Gaziantep has taken solid industrial steps in the last 20 years. With nearly 5 billion Dollars in exports, Gaziantep is Turkey’s 6th largest export giant. It is Turkey’s gate to the Middle East. It is a pioneering city of Anatolian Tigers with its four Organized Industry Zones (OIZs), many industrial areas, smaller industrial estates and free zone. One of the clearest indications that peace turns to trade and trade turns to prosperity.”

Stating that they are holding the 11th of the “Turkey Speaks” in Gaziantep, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “We will discuss the constitution with you dear residents of Gaziantep. Your views and demands will greatly contribute to the new constitution. I heartily thank all of you for attending our platform.”

- We’ve come together for a new constitution

Stating that they have come together as civil society organizations, mainly professional organizations and syndicate confederations, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “This is very significant. All of these organizations have differing world views, differing interests. There are businessmen among us, workers, merchants and pensioners. If you were to ask one by one, we would all say something different. But we have come together for the future of this country, for a new constitution. Everyone’s heart beats for a stronger Turkey.”

- The constitution volunteers should be the fundamental elements of this process

TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu emphasized that Turkey is the world’s 17th largest economy and said, “I’ve always been proud of this achievement. But we’ve set the goal to be one of the ten largest economies in the world by the centennial anniversary of the foundation of our Republic. If we truly want this; if we want 25,000 Dollars per capita income, then we must take stock of the tools we have available. Our constitution is chief among these.”

Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “We must design our constitution with a sense of responsibility for the future generations in mind. You, constitution volunteers, should be the fundamental elements of this process. I will say it clearly: Turkey will have difficulty moving forward with a constitution which is often changed, its spirit stuck between the sovereignty of the people and the elite. The present constitution no longer fits this body. The people will be their own tailor this time.”

- This must be a constitution to which over 75 million will agree

Relating what kind of constitution they want, the TOBB President said, “We believe that it should be a constitution that focuses on the individual, excludes discrimination, built on equality and justice, giving individuals the opportunity to benefit from basic rights and freedoms on a universal standard to which over 75 million people will agree. This is what we are doing today. We are achieving a first with deliberative democracy. I would like to thank you, the residents of Gaziantep for coming here today.

- Speak freely on all matters

TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “Speak your mind freely today. Talk about every issue. What kind of country, what kind of government do you honestly want to be a member of? If you don’t talk today, the blame is on your shoulders. You cannot answer for it to your children.”

- Speaker of the TBMM Çiçek: We have given our word

Speaker of the National Assembly Cemil Çiçek said, “The participation of the people is assured in the preparation of the new constitution.”

Stating that 4 of the 5 political parties in the National Assembly have reached an agreement regarding the new constitution, Çiçek said that these meetings are held in this regard.

Çiçek stated that the 4 political parties have agreed first and foremost that Turkey is in need of a new constitution and have agreed that the present National Assembly should be the one to craft the new constitution.

Stating also that the number of representatives from these 4 political parties in the commission is not determined by their presence in the Assembly but are all represented by 3 members, Çiçek also said that an agreement has been reached to have the Speaker also preside over the commission.

Çiçek stated that they plan to have completed the new constitution by the end of the year and said that they would be taking note of the views of the citizens until April 30th and transcribing these into bills of law after May 1st in order to be reviewed by the people once again.

“Turkey is in need of a constitution. We have given our word. This debt will be paid to you, the people.”
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