ANKARA - Turkish Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan said Thursday "what seemed like an atmosphere of escalating tension would hopefully give way to common sense and an exit out of the current situation would be found.
Arzuhan Yalcindag, chairperson of the Turkish Industrialists` and Businessmen`s Association (TUSIAD), paid a visit to Turkish Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan as part of TUSIAD`s recent initiative calling for social collaboration and dialogue.
Yalcindag recalled that they got together with Civil Organizations under the initiative and noted that they had duties in this process.
"Of course, a great duty falls on our parliament speaker. That`s why we are here: to discuss these issues," said Yalcindag.
Toptan said a call for common sense has been coming from all segments of the society since the beginning of the week. He said TUSIAD and the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) were spearheading this and pointed out that these calls had created positive repercussions in the speeches delivered by political leaders on Tuesday.
Toptan said it was natural for certain problems to occur in rapidly growing countries like Turkey but stressed that it was important to seek ways out and solve the problems.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting that lasted 45 minutes, Yalcindag said Toptan was supporting their initiative and said Toptan expressed that political parties had a great responsibility in finding a common ground.
Yalcindag said their efforts would continue and recalled that they would also meet with DISK and TISK labour unions to make assessments.
Following the call of TUSIAD for all institutions, and political parties to act with calm and avoid causing the tension to escalate, a number of Turkish NGOs called for "common sense" on Wednesday.
Gathering in Turkish metropolis of Istanbul, chairmen of Union of Chambers & Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB), Turkish Confederation of Public Laborers` Unions (Kamu-Sen), Turkish Confederation of Labor Unions (Turk-Is), Turkish Confederation of Tradesmen`s & Craftsmen`s Unions (TESK), Turkish Confederation of Employers` Unions (TISK), Turkish Agricultural Chambers` Union (TZOB) and Moral Rights Workers` Union (Hak-Is) released a joint statement calling for common sense.
"We are experiencing a historic day," the joint statement read out by TOBB Chairman Rifat Hisarciklioglu said.
The statement said Turkey needs common sense and calm more than anytime today.
"Turkey is undergoing a difficult democracy and law test these days. It is our common wish to bring our country out of this critical time without any injuries and harm," it told.
The joint statement said, "it is a mishap that we are still seeking common sense in days we are supposed to seek economic measures as we are seeing the impact of international financial crisis."
Turkey should focus on economic and social problems, particularly unemployment, as soon as possible, it told.
The statement said, "the Republic of Turkey is a democratic, secular and social state of law based on the first articles of the constitution. These indispensable principles are keeping us together."
"Every issue other than these principles can be a matter of politics and be freely discussed. The political process in Turkey raises despair and pessimism. It jeopardizes political, economic and social stability and prevents the society from directing its energy to positive areas," it said.
(OZG-MS)