Turkish Parliament Opens With Focus On Defeated Coup

Turkish Parliament Speaker Ismail Kahraman said Saturday the period of coups in Turkey is over.



Kahraman told assembled lawmakers the priority now was "to make a civilian, democratic, liberal and people-oriented constitution".



Turkey's parliament opened Saturday for its second legislative session, with speeches focusing on the deadly coup attempt two months ago.



"The nation proved on the night of July 15 that they already embraced democracy and [would never allow] another such attempt," Kahraman said in his opening remarks.



He harshly criticized the plotters and described them as "a brain-washed terrorist group disguised in army uniform who targeted the existence of Turkey".



Referring to the bomb attack on the parliament during the attempted coup, he said the building was seriously damaged.



Restoration has already started, he said, adding one part would remain damaged as a "living museum".



Kahraman warned the nation against "internal and external threats" and slammed the PKK, Daesh and Fetullah Terrorist Organization, or FETO, which Turkey accuses of having led the July 15 coup attempt.



"As the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, we will be doing our part in the right and determined fight against terrorism," he stressed.



About efforts on a new Turkish constitution, the parliament speaker said such a move was an expectation of the public as well as a promise by all the political parties to the nation.



The parliament, which had been in summer recess since Aug. 20, convened in the Turkish capital Ankara for its 26th legislative term.



On the first day of the new legislative session, the general assembly is to discuss the extension of the Turkish military presence in Syria and Iraq.



Such a mandate was given to the Turkish Armed Forces by parliament in 2014 and was extended for another year in September 2015. The mandate is expected to be extended for another 12 months. -