Govt completes preparations for constitutional changes

Speaking to reporters after a Cabinet meeting yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister and government spokesman Cemil Cicek said that all sectors of Turkish society agree on the need for constitutional changes. Stating that the government has completed its preparations for either sweeping or more targeted changes, Cicek said those who favor this effort should voice their views. Cicek also said the government is set to introduce major changes to the organizational structure of the country's European Union affairs agency to take a more effective course in accession negotiations. "There is an urgent need for an organizational overhaul of the Secretariat General for EU Affairs to continue the negotiations in a more effective fashion," he said. Cicek also said the overhaul was needed as the secretariat's current organizational structure has serious problems, adding that a number of new departments would be introduced to it as well.