Turkey: Opp. parties welcome PM's meeting request

ANKARA

Turkey's opposition parties have welcomed a meeting request from the prime minister to discuss the budget, reforms, parliamentary by-laws and a potential new constitution.

The first leader to welcome the request from Prime Minister and chairman of the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party Ahmet Davutoglu was the Republican People's Party leader (CHP) Kemal Kilicdaroglu.

CHP deputy chairman Mehmet Bekaroglu said: "that the ruling party discussing key issues about Turkey with the opposition is positive, there is no objection to it."

In addition, the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) appeared to view the prime minister's request favorably.

HDP's group deputy chairman Idris Baluken said: "We will reply [to] this meeting request positively. We hope it will contribute to finding solutions to problems in Turkey."

The prime minister's press office later revealed the planned dates of the meetings; Davutoglu will meet Kilicdaroglu on Dec. 30 at 1 p.m. local time (1100GMT) followed by the HDP leadership at 4 p.m. local time (1400GMT).

The Turkish premier will meet Devlet Bahceli, leader of the Nationalist Movement Party, on Jan. 4, 2016.

ANKARA

Turkey's opposition parties have welcomed a meeting request from the prime minister to discuss the budget, reforms, parliamentary by-laws and a potential new constitution.

CHP deputy chairman Mehmet Bekaroglu said: "that the ruling party discussing key issues about Turkey with the opposition is positive, there is no objection to it."

In addition, the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) appeared to view the prime minister's request favorably.

HDP's group deputy chairman Idris Baluken said: "We will reply [to] this meeting request positively. We hope it will contribute to finding solutions to problems in Turkey."

The Turkish premier will meet Devlet Bahceli, leader of the Nationalist Movement Party, on Jan. 4, 2016.