Civilian constitution in Turkey key leverage for enlargement

Fule said Turkey offered great opportunities in the changing world order, which meant “an important responsibility for Turkey.”

Saturday, 23 October 2010 15:02

European Union’s chief enlargement official has urged Turkey to draft a new constitution through extensive consultation between all political powers, the civil society and the public authorities.

“A civilian constitution is the most important starting point to strengthen a democracy system in line with the EU standards,” Stefan Fule, EU commissioner for enlargement, told the 7th Bogazici Conference on Turkey-European Union Relations in Istanbul.

Fule said the goal of negotiations was to secure a full-fledged accession, adding that any other status short of full membership could be targeted.

“We have to be the leaders not the spectators if we want the world to share our values. Turkey’s accession with the EU is important. Europe should take into consideration demands of the candidate countries while it pursues its own commitments,” Fule said.

The EU official said Turkey offered great opportunities in the changing world order, which meant “an important responsibility for Turkey.”

“If Turkey considers EU membership as a strategic target in accomplishing both national and international causes, then it has move closer to the EU values and it has to explain itself more to the EU citizens,” Fule said.

Fule said a referendum last month over a raft of constitutional reforms affirmed Turkish people’s will for a more democratic country, adding that the referendum constituted “a very important step” towards a national democratic transformation based on human rights and the rule of law.

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via Civilian constitution in Turkey key leverage for enlargement [ WORLD BULLETIN- TURKEY NEWS, WORLD NEWS ].