BAGIS MEETS WITH AHTISAARI

Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis met with Martti Ahtisaari, the former Finnish President and the head of the Independent Commission on Turkey, and other commission members.

Bagis hosted a luncheon in honor of Ahtisaari and the commission members. Secretary General Ambassador Volkan Bozkır also participated in the luncheon.

In his article, Ahtisaari had stated that the EU's hesitation on Turkey's accession to the Union damaged his prestige. In his reply to Ahtisaari's article, Bagis said that Turkey deserved a better treatment from the EU and that Turkey was an honorable partner of the EU and added "The message of Ahtisaari is also a good explanation of the commitment of the EU's intellect figures towards the European ideals."

Source: AA