ANKARA - Deniz Baykal, the chairman of the Republican People's Party, said late Monday Turkey has faced the biggest difficulty in convincing the government to take effective measures to counter terrorism.
"We (the opposition) have exerted great efforts to set up a national policy regarding terrorism," he told anchorman and journalist Ugur Dundar at a program on private CNN Turk channel.
Baykal said the opposition was unsuccessful to convince the parliament to act in unison against terrorism.
"However, the international platform has seen that Turkey is rightful and (finally) Turkey has been able to stage military operations. We have reached this stage thanks to the efforts of the opposition," he told.
Baykal argued that the Daglica attack (in October 2007 in which 12 soldiers were killed and 16 others were wounded ) was effective in the government's decision to take measures against terrorism.
"We should always think of what kind of problems the U.S. general approach to the Middle East can cause to us," he told adding that Turkey should always be alert and careful.
-CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT-
Baykal said nobody has any idea about the reason why a constitutional amendment is necessary.
"This is an AK Party constitution," he argued. "We can only contribute to a common, national and reliable constitution preparation process."
Baykal also said all segments of the society should participate in the preparation of a draft constitution.