According to the results released regarding yesterday’s referendum, constitutional amendments leading the way to a presidential system have been adopted with a 51.4% approval rate. We wish these results to be beneficial for all our country and people.

With the results of this referendum, Turkey has decided to switch to a new political system. In this new system, the executive competences will be concentrated in the office of the Presidency. We hope that this new system will prove to be successful in the progress of our country in accordance with the principle of good governance. Furthermore, we do hope that in this new period which awaits our country, profound divisions and polarisation within our people will be overcome within the framework of the aim of increasing the prosperity and development of our country and in an environment of pluralist democracy and rule of law.

At this particular juncture, it is of utmost importance for our country to strive to advance its growth and development without delay. In this new period, we would like to stress the critical importance of accelerating political and economic reforms towards meeting our goal of EU membership which has been pursued by consecutive governments for 58 years. As a candidate country, one should recollect that our country has achieved important steps towards meeting that goal. The agreement regarding the refugee crisis which was reached last year with the EU and the reforms which have been realised towards meeting the goal of visa liberalisation for Turkish citizens are some examples of Turkey’s efforts in this regard. Along with the completion of the visa liberalisation process, we would like to take this opportunity to highlight the importance of taking all the necessary steps regarding the modernisation of the Customs Union, recognising that the EU represents our biggest trade partner.

Ayhan ZEYTİNOĞLU
IKV Chairman