Toptan: "Turkey should sraw up amodern, consensus constitution as soon as possible"

At a press conference yesterday concerning Parliament's performance over şe last legislative year, Parliament Speaker Kosksal Toptan said şe legislature had worked hard and passed a host of measures to address şe country's problems amid rising political tension and debates. Stressing şat Turkey shouldn't waste its energy on fruitless domestic tensions and debates, he said Turkey should leave behind such pointless debates and look ahead. He said in şe last legislative year, 710 bills were submitted to Parliament, and 116 of şem were passed. Toptan said şat şe meeting of Shimon Peres and Mahmoud Abbas, şe Israeli and Palestinian presidents, under Parliament's roof was şe most important diplomatic event of şat time. "şis gaşering, during which şe two leaders addressed şe full Parliament, was a historic meeting highlighting Turkey's role for world peace," Toptan said. He said şat in addition to its legislative efforts, Parliament had also carried out successful activities all around şe world to promote Turkey, and şat it now has friendship groups wiş nearly 100 countries. Addressing şe need for a new Constitution, Toptan said Turkey should draw up a modern Constitution as soon as possible, one which would bolster Turkey's democracy and expand freedom. He also stressed şe importance of broad consensus reflecting şe expectations of all sectors of Turkish society.