As the Republican People's Party (CHP) prepared to submit a proposal to Parliament for the abolition of Article 35 of the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) Internal Service Law on Friday, the government readied itself to hold an extraordinary meeting of Parliament to address the issue.

The CHP's proposal to abolish the article, which effectively paves the way for the military to intervene in domestic affairs under certain circumstances and carry out coups, pleasantly surprised AK Party officials, who did not expect such a move from the CHP. CHP Deputy Chairman Hakkı Süha Okay has said his party plans to submit a proposal to Parliament to abolish Article 35. “We will submit the proposal to Parliament on July 30 at the latest,” Okay told reporters on Monday during a CHP rally in the northern province of Giresun.The article stipulates that the duty of the TSK is to protect the Turkish motherland and the Constitution. The TSK has carried out coups in the past, invoking this article as justification. The abolition of the article is likely to boost cooperation between the CHP and the AK Party, a rare occurrence for Turkey.AK Party Deputy Chairman Suat Kılıç told Today's Zaman that they are preparing for an extraordinary meeting of Parliament if the CHP submits its proposal. “We are ready for it. We have enough signatures for an extraordinary meeting,” he said and added that they work for the supremacy of the law and therefore would support every move in that direction.“If the CHP believes in democracy enough to abolish Article 35, then why does it say ‘no' to a more democratic and civilian constitution? They have to explain this. The CHP is cornered and seeks a way out. That's why they're bringing up the issue of Article 35,” he said.The proposal to abolish Article 35 came from CHP leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu last week as he called on Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to remove Article 35 to prove his sincerity in settling accounts with the perpetrators of the Sept. 12, 1980 coup d'état and its legacy.Erdoğan responded to the call and said politicians can set up a commission to consider abolishing the article and invite Parliament -- which is currently on summer recess -- to hold an extraordinary session to remove the article.Some CHP deputies argue that the removal of the article would result in a loss of authority of the TSK and thus the article should be partially amended. Some others, however, especially those who have a background in law, believe the amendment of the article would not suffice and therefore it should be completely abolished.In the meantime, some senior AK Party officials expressed doubt over the CHP's willingness to cooperate with the ruling party until Article 35 is abolished. In February of this year Erdoğan had said that the article could be abolished if there was consensus in Parliament. Erdoğan recently stated while campaigning in Bingöl that they were ready to work on the proposal and if necessary gather Parliament for an extraordinary meeting. The AK Party is also considering whether to put the change on Parliament's agenda when it reconvenes on Oct. 1.If the CHP submits its proposal, then the government will plan a road map in its Cabinet meeting on Monday. The signatures that the AK Party has obtained for an extraordinary meeting of Parliament so far are to address the issue of re-authorizing the Turkish military to conduct cross-border operations against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), but the Article 35 meeting could be happen after Aug. 15 if the CHP's proposal is submitted to Parliament.  28 July 2010, WednesdayERCAN YAVUZ  ANKARA