Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Egemen Bagis: 'The EU Must Accept Turkey'

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • Egemen Bagis: 'The EU Must Accept Turkey'

    EGEMEN BAGIS: 'THE EU MUST ACCEPT TURKEY'

    EuroNews
    http://www.euronews.net/2012/02/10/egemen-bagis-the-eu-must-accept-turkey/
    Feb 10 2012

    Joining the European Union remains a top priority for Turkey despite
    the economic crisis and controversy over comments made on the Armenian
    genocide. They're also a key player in trying to resolve the Syrian
    crisis.

    Gulsum Alan, euronews:

    "We are joined by Turkish EU affairs minister. Egemen Bag覺癬_,
    welcome to Euronews.

    "In Brussels, you spoke with the Turkey rapporteur, and with the
    President of the European Parliament, but with the EU in economic
    crisis and the eurozone in a critical situation. Why does Turkey
    still want to be part of the European Union?"

    Egemen Bag覺癬_ EU affairs minister:

    "Turkey's position is not driven by economic interests, we never saw
    the EU in this way. For us, Europe is the most extensive project for
    peace in all of human history. When we look at the member countries
    of the European Union, we find that peoples who have waged war for
    centuries now live in peace within the EU.

    "For this peaceful project to become more worldwide Turkey should
    be integrated into it. Due to its geographical location, Turkey
    serves as a bridge between countries, and can give this project an
    international dimension.

    "Despite the economic difficulties experienced by the EU, we must not
    forget that the EU still has the highest wealth per capita. Therefore
    the EU model is one of the best to apply when thinking of our own
    hopes for the future."

    Gulsum Alan, euronews:

    "Turkey plays an important role in the region. Isn't it going to turn
    towards other horizons?"

    Egemen Bag覺癬_ EU affairs minister:

    "As always, Turkey continues to be a bridge between East and West,
    between Islam and Christianity. In terms of energy resources it also
    serves as a bridge and manages supply and demand. This bridge, which
    extends from north to south, and east to west gets stronger every day.

    This shouldn't be a source of disagreement."

    Gulsum Alan, euronews:

    "How does Turkey intend to help the EU out of economic crisis?"

    Egemen Bag覺癬_ EU affairs minister:

    "As Turkey has also gone through very difficult times, we can say that
    the EU will emerge from this crisis even more stable and fortified.

    Not so long ago, there was a period of 12-13 years in which Turkey
    saw interest rates raise by 8000 percent in a single night.

    "The first thing that the EU should do is take away the visa that
    applies to Turkish citizens. It's unfair, illogical, and illegitimate.

    Turks should be able to travel freely in EU member countries.

    "This would mean more tourists and therefore more money spent. They'll
    do business. Turkish citizens now have the opportunity to travel
    without visas in 65 countries. We are part of the customs union, 50
    percent of our foreign trade is with the EU, 60 percent of tourists
    visiting Turkey come from the EU. Despite all this, it is unfortunate
    that we can not we travel freely in EU countries.

    "The world of business has grown significantly. Turkey is currently
    the sixth largest economy in Europe. Figures from the OECD predict
    that by 2050 Turkey will be the second largest economy, and until 2020
    Turkey will continue to have the strongest economic growth in Europe.

    "To build walls and close doors to such potential does not make sense.

    We must stop thinking that the Turks will emigrate to Europe, because
    in recent years we've seen that more Europeans are moving to Turkey
    than vice versa."

    Gulsum Alan, euronews:

    "Switzerland has opened an investigation into what you said about
    the law on the denial of genocide, and France is making similar moves.

    Does the fact that it could spread throughout the EU worry you?"

    Egemen Bag覺癬_ EU affairs minister:

    "Among the most important principles of the EU is free speech. The
    fact that some EU members have to pass a series of laws that restrict
    freedom of speech is illogical, this is contrary to the principles
    of the EU constitution that the members have adopted.

    "I said in Zurich, I repeat here, and I will repeat elsewhere, that
    with our information, according to our records and our sources,
    it makes no sense... it's illogical to call the 1915 events a genocide.

    "We challenge Armenia and other countries to open their archives. That
    we create an independent commission in which we find Armenian
    historians, Russian, Turkish, European and American historians.

    "That all these countries open their archives so that we can analyse
    what really happened in 1915. Thereafter we can assess the situation.

    This is an execution without trial. Calling the 1915 events a genocide
    based solely on information we have right now, comes from a lobby
    that nurtures malicious hatred. We refuse to enter into their games."

    Gulsum Alan, euronews:

    "Could this be spread throughout the EU?"

    Egemen Bag覺癬_ EU affairs minister:

    "This is against the principles of the EU. For this to be possible,
    all 27 EU members should take a unanimous decision. It's unlikely
    that all 27 EU countries decide this at the same time."

    Gulsum Alan, euronews:

    "The AK party who are in power, seem tired of making reforms. Why
    are they not as dynamic as they once were?"

    Egemen Bag覺癬_ EU affairs minister:

    "The AK party is not tired of making reforms. The AK party is
    historically the government which has made 漊@~K漊@~Kthe most
    reforms. Just look what we have done recently, for the first time in
    88 years the celebration of Mass in the Orthodox Monastery of Sumela
    became possible.

    "After 112 years our Armenian citizens began celebrating Mass in
    their Akdamar, recently in Turkey relations between civilians and
    the military and the Supreme Military Council were reformed. All this
    shows how we are more than ever determined to pursue reforms"

    Gulsum Alan, euronews:

    "The EU has high expectations for the Turkey's new constitution. What
    do you plan to do?"

    Egemen Bag覺癬_ EU affairs minister:

    "We are creating a commission with an equal number of representatives
    that reflects the four parties represented in parliament. Right now it
    is this committee which is responsible for the new constitution. NGOs,
    academics and journalists also support the work of the commission.

    "We've also created a website so that citizens can make proposals.

    Different religious groups also support this initiative. Once all
    this information is collected the commission will prepare a civil
    constitution which I hope will unite all citizens.

    "A constitution that will be approved by all political parties,
    a constitution that every citizen will agree with. This will enable
    Turkey to advance in the process of EU accession."

    Gulsum Alan, euronews:

    "In Syria, as the repression of civilians intensifies. What does
    Turkey intend to do to stop these massacres?"

    Egemen Bag覺癬_ EU affairs minister:

    "Today at a press conference the President of the European Parliament
    himself said that Turkey is the country that made 漊@~K漊@~Kthe most
    courageous statements on this issue. We would also like to see European
    countries adopt a firmer stance.

    "On one night alone 300 people were killed. The entire international
    community must tell them to stop. The international community should
    exert greater pressure on China and Russia who are permanent members
    of the Security Council of the United Nations.

    "Tens of thousands of people have already been welcomed into Turkey.

    All our resources have been deployed... Concerning our plans for
    the future, I'm not ready to share that on camera, I'll save it for
    diplomacy behind the scenes."

Working...
X