NEW YORK - The conference entitled "New Draft Constitution of Turkey" organized at Columbia University ended on Monday.
Turkish professor Ergun Ozbudun told the conference that Turkey needs a new constitution and that it should be adopted with consensus.
Ozbudun said it would not be easy to achieve it because there is polarization among Turkish people regarding definitions of relation between state and religion, cultural rights for minorities, education in native language and definition of citizenship.
"But the idea of a new constitution should not be put aside. It would be right to adopt the new constitution by the votes of Justice & Development (AK) Party deputies. AK Party and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) made a limited cooperation, but it won't be long-lasting," Ozbudun said.
He stated that it was impossible to collaborate with MHP on an amendment to article 301 of Turkish Penal Code, definition of citizenship or education in native language.
"So, AK Party has to walk alone on this way," he added.
AK Party deputy chairman Dengir Mir Mehmet Fyrat was another speaker at the conference. Firat said current constitution can not meet the needs of Turkey, noting that several political parties and non-governmental organizations offered to change the constitution.
"But now, when we wanted to change it, some people oppose us," he said.
"We told a scientific commission to prepare a draft constitution. Our party has not made much changes on the draft. We earlier said we would initiate a general debate for 3 or 4 months once our party makes public the draft. Debates on the draft will be made before public audience. And finally, it will be voted in a referendum even if it is adopted unanimously at the parliament," he added.