Baykal Won't Support Amendment To Article 109

ANKARA - Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal has said that it was wrong to insist on an amendment to Article 109 of the Constitution, adding, ''our support to an amendment to Article 109 is out of question. It is up to them if they want to change it.''
Baykal said that the issue was solved if Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan entered the parliament through an election after an amendment to Article 76 of the Constitution.
Baykal said that CHP parliamentarians would not stay in the parliamentary lodgings.
Baykal answered questions of the A.A correspondent at the CHP Headquarters.
When asked whether or not development about Article 109 had caused a tension, Baykal said that several wrong assessments had been made about the issue.
''All of us have to act modestly. All of us have to know the limits of our capabilities. It is real that we need to warn each other from time to time. I mean that there is not a tension between us as it is said. Besides, there is not such a decision or implementation. It is wrong to insist on an amendment to Article 109,'' he said.
''Article 109 is completely different. Prime Ministry post and legislative authority can't be handed over. Sovereignty unconditionally belongs to people and nation uses this sovereignty through its representatives in the parliament. It is possible if we change it. But it is not true and appropriate to change it. It causes very serious problems. So it is not necessary. There are many other solution methods,'' he said.
When asked what the best method was, Baykal said, ''after an amendment to Article 76, Erdogan can enter the parliament through election. However, we won't support a bill on amendment to Article 109.''
''We have entered a new political era. There is a new political understanding. We are trying to fulfill requirements of this situation. As the opposition, we are trying to fulfill our responsibilities,'' he said.
''We think that constructive politics is necessary under current conditions in Turkey,'' Baykal said.
Recalling that he would pay a visit to Warsaw in coming days, Baykal said that he could not attend the first session of the parliament but he would attend CHP Parliamentary Group meeting on Monday.

BAYKAL SPEAKS TO A.A : ''STABILITY PROGRAMME COST A LOT'' (2)

ANKARA - Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal has said that the economic stability programme had cost a lot to Turkey so those should not be wasted, adding, ''completion of the stability programme successfully should be the target.''
Speaking to the A.A correspondent on Monday, Baykal said that requirements of transition into registered economy should be sought within a healthy cooperation with the business world.
When asked what should be firstly done in the economy, Baykal said that a very appropriate environment had gained shape in the economy in line with the political change.
Stressing that issues like decrease in interest rates, stability in U.S. dollar's price, increase in exports, continuation of growth and decrease in inflation had formed a very pleasing infrastructure, Baykal said, ''when it was seen that a new party came to power alone, this creased an optimism in the economy. This is very important.''
''A stability programme is under way. Very important steps have been taken and the programme cost a lot to Turkey. Many people lost their job, hundreds of thousands of business places were closed, all sectors suffered serious problems and income distribution became more unjust in order to government's aim to reduce inflation. All of these should not be wasted and completion of the stability programme successfully should be the target,'' he said.