Babacan briefs NGOs draft natiıonal program

The government's draft national program has been sent to 84 non-governmental organizations, and efforts to meet with opposition party leaders to discuss it will continue, said Foreign Minister and chief negotiator for Turkey's EU Talks Ali Babacan yesterday. Speaking at a conference in Ankara, Babacan spoke about the preparation and content of the draft program. He also criticized main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli for rebuffing his efforts to meet with them to discuss the program. Babacan has met so far with the leaders of two minor parties, the Grand Unity Party's (BBP) Muhsin Yazicioglu and Ufuk Uras of the Freedom and Solidarity Party (ODP). Saying he hopes the program is not sacrificed to political concerns ahead of next year's local elections, and that Turkey's European Union membership bid isn't exploited, he added, "The government's approach is focused on compromise, as there is no room in modern democracy for avoiding dialogue." Babacan yesterday gave an iftar fast-breaking dinner to foreign diplomats serving in Ankara, including US Ambassador Ross Wilson and British Ambassador Nick Baird.