Turkey's business world calls for a new constitution to ease tensıon
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A comprehensive discussion and a wider platform for building a new constitution that includes not only politicians but also civil society, academics and judicial institutions would be a good start to ease the tension and form social agreement in Turkey, the country’s influential business group said on Thursday. Two leading trade unions refused an invitation to take part saying involvement in the development of a new constitution is not part of their current agenda. The Deputy Prime Minister Cemil Cicek said Thursday TUSIAD's initiatives on the constitution convention once again displayed the necessity for a new constitution. (UPDATED)
"We are spreading political disagreements that occur in a critical atmosphere to every segment of society, turning political polarization into a social division," Mustafa Koc, chairman of the High Consultative Council of the Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen’s Association (TUSIAD) said on Thursday at a TUSIAD meeting in Istanbul.    Â
Koc said the first comprehensive step that could ensure political-social compromise was a constitutional amendment. Â
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"Reaching a compromise on a constitution that eliminates concerns and worries, and continues to preserve our fundamental values and does not have any cavities that may cause political deadlocks can be the first step in solving our problems," he said.
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Koc suggested that politicians, non-governmental associations, academicians, and judicial organs should discuss a comprehensive constitutional amendment.
TWO UNIONS DECLINE
TUSIAD invited trade unions to attend its High Consultation meeting for first time on Monday. Two of
The Confederation of Turkish Labor Unions (Turk-Is) and Moral Rights Workers' Unions (Hak-Is) said they would not attend the
Hak-Is Chairman Salim Uslu said, "The presence of Dervis at a place where the Turkish Constitution would be discussed has led to the idea of a new political formation, and added there is already an ongoing process for the construction of a new constitution.
An AKP-led initiative for the construction of a new constitution is currently underway; however, the opposition, as well as TUSIAD, claims that the process is not open to all of society and demand that it be formed by a wider platform.
Dervis, the creator of
"It would be very good opportunity to meet with our friends from the trade unions, but I do not have any information about this situation," Dervis said.
"Serious developments have happen in the world's economy and these are also affecting  In a unique situation, Dervis, who had no party affiliation, was invited by the Turkish Parliament to serve as TUSIAD: AGREEMENT EXPECTED TUSIAD chairperson Arzuhan Dogan Yalcindag also said the meeting with trade unions was not over and they have agreed to come together again in the near future, responding to reporters following to the meeting.  "Nothing has been completed as yet. We also spoke yesterday (Wednesday) about coming together at another platform. It is not our mission to increase the tension. There is no stress or conflict between us. We will come together in the near future and begin to look for ways to reach an agreement." she said.  Yalcindag also delivered a speech at the meeting and warned about the current political conflict in the country. "  "The current situation leads to an unpredictable future. If it goes on unchecked, in a year we will have a country that is quite difficult to rule. Therefore, we need to make healthy analyses about economy and politics," she added.    Â