Handan Kazancı
05 January 2016•Update: 05 January 2016
ISTANBUL
Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
Turkish newspapers on Tuesday mainly covered a meeting between the leader of the country’s ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party Ahmet Davutoglu and the head of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Devlet Bahceli to draft a new constitution.
The new constitution will replace the 34-year-old charter produced under Turkey’s last military regime.
“[They] take the road for a new constitution,” was MILLIYET’s headline, featuring a photograph of the two leaders shaking hands.
The newspaper reported that Davutoglu and Bahceli agreed to form a “constitution conciliation committee” to which all political parties would have equal representation.
Turkey's current parliament consists of four parties. Last week, Davutoglu enlisted the support of Kemal Kilicdaroglu, leader of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), in creating a new constitution.
Talks with the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) were cancelled last month following remarks by HDP leader Selahattin Demirtas on autonomy for Turkey’s Kurdish-majority provinces amid continuing violence.
“Six months more,” was VATAN’s headline, reporting that the government plans to complete the process of drafting a new constitution in six months.
“A commission with four parties for the new constitution,” was SABAH’s headline, while YENI SAFAK wrote: “Consensus on the constitution.”
HURRIYET ran with the headline: “Clear rejection of the presidency,” referring to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s push for an executive presidential system.
According to HURRIYET’s report, the MHP leader said: “We are ready to handle any subject but we will not accept a presidential system.”
Turkish newspapers also covered tensions between regional rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran amid revived antagonism over the execution of a prominent Shia Muslim cleric.
Riyadh executed Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr and 46 others on Saturday after they were convicted on terrorism-related charges.
“Everybody will lose,” was YENI SAFAK’s headline, reporting that Bahrain, Sudan and the United Arab Emirates announced cutting diplomatic ties with Iran.
The newspaper reported that Turkey would call on Riyadh and Tehran to ease diplomatic tensions.
Following a cabinet meeting in Ankara on Monday, Turkey’s Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus said:
“We want both countries to immediately come out of this tension that will obviously add severe tension to the current one in the Middle East.”
“Spreading,” was VATAN’s headline, featuring a photograph of protestors burning an effigy of Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud in New Delhi.
In domestic news, Turkish newspapers also covered a tragic gas-leak accident in Istanbul that claimed the lives of a mother and her three children.
“Gas leak destroys the whole family,” was MILLIYET’s headline, featuring a picture of the three children together.
Hediye Uzumcu (35) and her three children – Baran (9), Rojhad (6) and Zeynep (4) – died from carbon-monoxide poisoning, local police said.
The daily reported seven other people also died across Turkey due to carbon-monoxide poisoning as cold weather hits the country.
“Death sleep,” was AKSAM’s headline, while CUMHURIYET wrote: “Mother and three children are victims of gas [leak].”
In economic news, financial newspaper DUNYA covered the re-opening of Habur gate in the Turkey-Iraq border.
The newspaper wrote that the staff at the border gate would start to work on Tuesday and around 500 vehicles would be allowed to pass, citing Turkey's Ministry of Customs and Trade.
The gate had been closed due to security reasons for around 25 days, the daily reported.
