December 31, 2015•Update: January 04, 2016
ANKARA
Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has expressed hope for a better future for Turkey in 2016 as Ankara works toward a new constitution that will bring "advanced democracy" to the country.
Delivering a written New Year message late Thursday, Davutoglu said: “We will hopefully crown our success -- which has been continuing since 2002 -- with the new constitution."
The current constitution was drafted in 1982 following a military takeover and has undergone several amendments since.
“The new constitution that we will prepare (…) will duly guide Turkey towards standards of advanced democracy,” Davutoglu said, adding: “It will be a political contract that every citizen will be proud of and embrace.”
He also stressed progress in Turkey’s European Union accession bid, saying that Turkey’s efforts to become an EU member would also contribute to Ankara’s democratic vision.
On Dec. 14, the European Union has opened a new chapter on economic policy in Turkey's ongoing accession talks, bringing the country a step closer to full membership of the 28-nation bloc.
Chapter 17, which aims at bringing Turkey in line with EU’s economic and monetary policy and guaranteeing independence of the central bank, is the first chapter to be opened in two years and raises the total number of chapters opened so far in the accession talks to 15 out of 35.
Davutoglu also wished peace, justice and stability in 2016. “Our efforts will continue to bring much more democracy, justice and peace," he added.
