[EDITORIALS]Time for the Assembly to work

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[EDITORIALS]Time for the Assembly to work

After a long debate, four leaders of the Uri and Grand National parties agreed Tuesday to normalize the National Assembly’s operations. This seems to be the first step in the politics of reconciliation.
The 17th Assembly, which started with the firm promise of a new political atmosphere, has drifted, failing to discuss and vote on bills vital for the people.
It is really meaningful that the parties finally reached a compromise this week. After Tuesday’s meeting, the leaders said they were able to understand their partners more and build a basis for mutual trust.
We believe if they meet and engage in frank discussions, they will be able to clear misunderstandings and misperceptions among them. If they become paranoid and call their partners “the wicked forces,” or “those who spoil the nation,” while labeling themselves as on “the side of history and justice” or “true patriots,” then there is no chance for reconciliation.
The compromise achieved by the four leaders is a start, not an end point. They should not try to insert self-centered angles on the text of the agreement, which said “The four controversial bills, in principle, shall be handled by mutual agreement and the two parties shall make their best effort to take care of the bills within the year.”
The Grand Nationals should not try to gain time without presenting alternatives. The Uri Party should not use its status as the majority party in the Assembly to force its opinion that the bills should be voted on within the year. Doing so would destroy the seed of trust developed Tuesday. We ask the governing Uri Party to listen to its partner, and the opposition Grand National Party to make sincere efforts to reach an agreement.
The leaders of the two parties have a heavy responsibility: according to Tuesday’s agreement, if the Assembly’s committees fail to handle the four bills, then the leaders will have to meet again to take care of the bills by themselves.
We ask the Uri leaders to persuade their fellow lawmakers, who staged a sit-in protest inside the Assembly demanding that the four bills be voted within the year, to stop the protest.
We expect the two parties to respect and develop Tuesday’s framework for agreement. If they succeed in handling at least a couple of the bills, then it will demonstrate the possibility that dialogue and negotiation can prevail in an Assembly marked by struggles.
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