LONDON - Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan said Monday that reforms carried out by Turkish government were aimed at strengthening secularism in Turkey, not weakening it.
Speaking at British think-tank organization "Royal United Services Institute" in London, Babacan said Turkish government has done a lot for democratic rights, key freedoms and law in Turkey.
Stating that works on a comprehensive amendment to Turkey's constitution are under way, Babacan said these reforms will be made because Turkish people deserve them.
He said Turkey's constitution defines the country as a democratic, secular, social state of law, which are the irrevocable provisions.
"Nobody has any intentions of changing these provisions," Babacan said.
Upon a question, Babacan said there were some threats against Turkish democracy last year, however, he said "we passed a significant test, general elections were held and we passed it successfully."
"It is obvious that we face another exam this year too," he said.
Asked whether the closure case against ruling Justice & Development (AK) Party would effect this process, Babacan said Turkish government has been exerting efforts to carry Turkish political system to EU standards by the help of constitutional amendments and EU reforms.
"We will not let recent developments derail reforms," Babacan said.
Responding to a question on relations between civil authority and military in Turkey, Babacan said there had been interruptions in democracy and some strange incidents unique to Turkey in the past.
"But now there is the power of people. Now we can talk about a totally different Turkey. For instance, it can be ironic but Turkish Armed forces is a strong supporter of Turkey's EU bid," Babacan said.
(TÇ-AY)