Turkish government pledges to address minority issues

PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party), has rolled up its sleeves to resolve the long-standing problems minority communities are facing in the country and has prepared a roadmap to this effect.

By the order of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a commission consisting of members from the Foreign Ministry, the Culture and Tourism Ministry, the Interior Ministry and the Education Ministry, developed a roadmap for the solution of all the problems of minority groups.

The government also wants the contribution of various minority groups in the preparation of a brand new constitution for Turkey. The AK Party deputy leader, Huseyin Celik, and chief EU negotiator, Egemen Bagis, have been commissioned to listen to the problems and demands of minorities before the general elections of 2011. The government hopes to eliminate hurdles that prevent the realization of these groups' demands during the preparation of the new constitution, World Bulletin reported.