Turkey's new legislative year opens, official business begins next week

Turkish parliamentary party leaders and MPs attended an opening speech delivered by President Abdullah Gul in parliament.Â

 

The newly appointed chief of Turkish General Staff Gen. Ilker Basbug and other force commanders did not attend the opening ceremony.

 

Parliament will begin a busy period on Oct. 7 when lawmakers return from the Ramadan holiday.

 

Parliament is expected to vote on Oct. 8 for a one year extension on a mandate to launch military operations against outlawed PKK separatists in northern Iraq, part of the new national program introduced by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).

 

The current mandate on Turkey’s military operations in northern Iraq expires on Oct. 17.Â

 

Turkey, provided with intelligence by the United States, has stepped up military action against the outlawed separatist PKK since December. Turkey has been carrying out several air strikes and a week-long ground incursion into northern Iraq in February, where more than 2,000 PKK terrorists take refuge.