Main opposition head meets with EU enlargement chief

In his first trip overseas as the head of Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), Kemal Kilicdaroglu yesterday met with European Union Commissioner for Enlargement Stefan Fule in Brussels to discuss recent events in Turkey. Fule said they had "a very fruitful" meeting, adding that last weekend's referendum approving a constitutional reform package had topped their talks. "I explained to Kilicdaroglu why we had insistently described the constitutional package as step in the right direction," said Fule. "I think that the constitutional amendments will affect Turkey's EU accession drive in a very positive way." Fule said he also stressed that the Turkish government should welcome input when drafting an expected new constitution, adding that commitments made by the Turkish president and prime minister to include all sectors of society in the process had been well received by the EU. Fule said the commission would closely monitor implementation of the amendments approved in the referendum in line with EU standards.