Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

Making the announcement on behalf of the Platform, TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “We will persist despite vile plots… We invite everyone to this march.”ü

The Call to Unity Platform press release as stated by TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu is as follows:

“We stand here, together as the Turkey Workers’ Syndicates Confederation (TURKİSH-İŞ), Turkey Employers’ Syndicates Confederation (TİSK), Turkey Artisan and Artists Confederation (TESK), Turkey Agriculture Chambers Union (TZOB), HAK- Workers’ Syndicates Confederation (HAK-İŞ), Civil Servants’ Syndicates Confederation (MEMUR-SEN), Turkey Public Workers’ Syndicates Confederation (Turkey KAMU-SEN), Turkey Bars Union (TBB), Turkey Notaries Union (TNB), Turkey Certified Public Accountants’ and Certified Public Accountants’ Chambers Union (TÜRMOB), Turkish Veterinarians Union (TVHB), Turkey Travel Agencies Union (TÜRSAB), Turkish Pharmacies’ Union (TEB), Turkish Dentists’ Union (TDB), Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen’s Association (TÜSİAD), Private Industrialists and Businessmen Association (MÜSİAD), Turkey Businessmen and Industrialists Confederation (TUSKON), All Industrialists and Businessmen Association (TÜMSİAD), Turkey Exporters’ Council (TİM), Anatolia Lions Businessmen’s Association (ASKON), Turkish Enterprise and Business World Confederation (TURKİSHONFED), East and South East Industrialists and Businessmen Associations Federation (DOGÜNSİFED), Turkey Retired Workers’ Association (TİED) and The Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB).

We stand united as NGOs covering every aspect of organized society in every region of Turkey. Friends, you know that we are living at a time of heightened sensitivity. We face situations that wound us deeply. The increasing number of martyred policemen, soldiers and civilians due to the increased number of terrorist attacks is felt by our nation as a whole. The singular aim of these attacks is to disturb the unity and solidarity of our nation. We will not stand idle against these attacks targeting the unity and solidarity of our nation.

We vehemently condemn terrorism.

We are workers, employers, artisans, civil servants, retirees, farmers; we are East, West, North and South. We are one, we are united! We will stand united against vile plots. We will defend our unity.

We all know that vile underhanded plots are not something new for us. These vile games have always deteriorated the perseverance and stability of our nation. Our greatest strength has been our fraternity. Today, those who wish to weaken our bonds of fraternity should know that the bonds this land ferments are strong.

The attacks which have deeply aggrieved our nation have increased sensitivity. Taking into account this sadness and sensitivity, we have consulted with each other as to what can be done.

We have formed the “Call to Unity Platform” to represent all facets of society in fraternity. The “Call to Unity Platform” is open to all civil society organizations.

We have met with the President of the Republic, the Speaker of the Parliament, the Prime Minister and President of political parties. We have observed that despite everything else on the agenda, Turkey’s political leaders share the same views regarding terror. They all agree that we share a unity, solidarity and fraternity.

None of them alienates the other, none bargains for political future. This has given us hope. We thank all of our leaders.

With the power this gave us, we will march in Istanbul on the 30th of October as the occupational organizations, syndicate confederations and associations that represent all of society with the support of our political parties.

We will carry only the symbol of our unity during the march, our crescent-star flag. We invite all who share our feelings to this march.

We will march despite vile plots…

We welcome everyone to this march…

Because ‘IT WON’T HAPPEN WITHOUT YOU’…”

- “We do not discriminate”

Answering the questions of the press, Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that details regarding the march would be disclosed during the week and that no one would be excluded from the march, marching under the uniting component of the flag.

When asked why some civil society organizations like KESK weren’t a part of the Call to Unity Platform, Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu said that the platform was open to all and their calls would continue.

When asked if the platform would be contributing to work on the new constitution, TOBB President stated that in a state of participatory democracy, everyone in Turkey was in accord for the preparation of a new constitution.
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