IT IS TIME FOR THE NATION TO SPEAK AND DECIDE

Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis said: "12 September, which is a stain on our history, will now turn into an enthusiasm. As a big coincidence, the constitution of the military coup will receive the largest blow exactly at the 30th anniversary of the coup.

Visiting Dubrovnik on the occasion of "Croatia Summit", Bagis answered the questions of the press.

Evaluating the verdict of the Constitutional Court about the constitutional amendment package, Bagis said:

"Some people could not sleep last night since they wondered how to interpret the verdict of the Constitutional Court in favor of themselves. However, we could not sleep because we wondered how to prepare for the referendum and how to explain this amendment package to our nation. As always it is, we will ask our people's opinion. We will explain the process. This nation has always been fair and will be fair in this issue, as well.

It is a shame for the democracy that the main opposition party, which seeks the votes of the nation, goes to law court in order to prevent the nation to decide and that they are anxious about the decision of the nation. It is a huge slight to tell the nation "you cannot see, you cannot understand".

TGNA has not amended the Constitution. TGNA forwarded its decision about the nation's verdict on whether to amend the Constitution or not. It is a shame to obstruct this forwarding. Nevertheless, the Constitutional Court accepted to ask the nation's opinion about the constitutional amendment package even it was unpleasant since the Court overrode its authority and interfered in the context of the article. From now on, we should focus on 12 September. 12 September, which is a stain in our history, will now turn into an enthusiasm. As a big coincidence, the constitution of the military coup will receive the largest blow exactly at the 30th anniversary of the coup.

As a reply for a question, Bagis said he was aware that the terrorism tried to create a fear atmosphere in Turkey, threatened the national unity and integrity and it had separatist desires.

About a question on the professional army, Bagis continued as follows:

"Of course, Turkish General Staff and Ministry of National Defense will inspect and question the events; they will determine the needs of Turkey. However, I think we can decide how to meet the needs in the most practical manner and how to have the most dynamical army. This may be realized within a certain calendar."

I believe that in the short term, we should achieve the power which has received a good training in combating with the terrorism and which has the best equipment and comprises of experienced soldiers and in the long term, we should have a professional army.

Also mentioning the judicial reform, Bagis said: "We should put aside our prejudice and the government's attempts should be taken into consideration so as to make them real immediately. Above all, we should give the best answer to those who brainwash our teens and make our children instruments for terrorism by the help of a legal system which will embrace everybody, which will factionalize nobody and will not make our citizens look for other choices".

Source: AA