BAGIS ATTENDS THE CERTIFICATE CEREMONY OF 2008-2009 ACADEMIC YEAR JEAN MONNET SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMME

Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis participated in the certificate ceremony of 2008-2009 academic year Jean Monnet scholarship programme.

Speaking at the ceremony, Bagis said: "Turkey has become a wealthier, more democratic, liberal and transparent country and the EU process has great contributions to what Turkey has become."

Stating that one of the most mentioned issues in Turkey was the ‘democratic initiative', Bagis said "The people living in EU member states have equal rights, likewise our own citizens with whom we have shared this land for centuries should also have equal right. This process aims to realize that."

Stating that it was advantageous to make on-site observations in the EU, Bagis said Jean Monnet scholarship programme was important in that respect. Bagis said that those who used the scholarship had important knowledge on the EU and that Turkey needed EU experts.

In his speech, Marc Pierini, Head of the Delegation of the European Commission to Turkey, mentioned the contributions of the programme to Turkey-EU relations. Bagis and Pierini presented the certificates to the recipients of scholarship.

Source: AA