AKP, CHP coalition talks at key phase, leaders expected to meet this week

Coalition talks between the Justice and Development Party (AKP) and the Republican People's Party (CHP) will enter a new phase following a last meeting by respective delegations on Aug. 3, with the two parties' leaders to decide in an encounter likely to take place later this week. 

The AKP and CHP delegations, led by Culture Minister Ömer Çelik and deputy leader Haluk Koç, met on Aug. 1 at parliament for the fourth time and will meet tomorrow for the fifth and last time before they submit their reports to AKP leader Ahmet Davuto?lu and CHP leader Kemal K?l?çdaro?lu. 

"We will conclude exploratory talks on Monday, and we'll be able to submit our reports to our leaders," Çelik told reporters following a fourth round of talks on Aug. 1. 

"We will go through the phase of coalition-making talks if the chairmen and executive boards of the parties admit that preliminary talks have yielded a result. But in the event they come to the conclusion that exploratory talks have failed to bring about such a result, then the process will end there," Çelik said.  

Koç said the June 7 elections did not allow any political party to form a one-party government. "People gave us the responsibility [to engage in] dialogue and compromise. We, as the CHP, are continuing talks with this understanding and historical responsibility."    

The CHP underlined the need to form a coalition government as everybody should put the interest of Turkey before their party's interests, adding that holding new elections would not be a solution to the problems of Turkey, particularly as it is wracked by violence.

AKP-CHP teams have discussed a number of issues in the last four rounds of talks, including the economy, foreign policy, democratization, media...