Atalay: Peace is about to come

Deputy Prime Minister Besir Atalay evaluated the peace-making process in an interview to reporters on his way to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) with Transportation and Communication Minister Binali Yildirim. "Everyone is positive and optimistic about the peace-making process including Imrali, Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) and Europe. All of the Turkish citizens including those living in the Black Sea region, which is one of the most sensitive regions to the problem, is expecting peace to be ensured as soon as possible. In these circumstances, we should abstain from all kinds of actions which are likely to harm the peace process and take concrete steps. Everyone is aware of his/her responsibility. Our primary objective is to lay down the arms and stop the bloodshed," Atalay said. In response to questions about the process of preparing a new constitution, Atalay said, "As far as I know, we have not met any of the political parties about this issue. The constitutional commission is making progress now and it would not be right to involve in something that will damage the commission. We need to make a new constitution in this term. The Prime Minister says that we have pledged a new constitution for the last three terms and thus, we are clinging to it. If the constitutional commission fails, we will look for alternatives, which is normal. It will be a party in the Parliament of course. Four parties together would be preferable but if none accedes, then BDP will be an option. Why not? We attach importance to the presidential system. We discussed this issue in the party and submitted our proposal to the constitutional commission unanimously. However, if the new constitution will not include that, we can be flexible about it. We can ignore the presidential system for the sake of reconciliation."