THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE HIT TO DEMOCRACY BY THE FIRST COUP IN TURKEY

Having made a written statement regarding the anniversary of the 27 May 1960 military coup, Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis indicated that today it was the 50th anniversary of the morning when the democracy was hit by the first military coup in Turkey and said: "27 May 1960 military coup stroke a big blow not only on the democratization process of Turkey but on its integration process to Europe, as well".

Noting that Turkey had been endeavoring to integrate into European Union since 1959 when it had made its first application for accession to the European Economic Community and that Turkey had been governed by military constitutions since 1961, Bagis said: " This is not a coincidence. It is obvious that it has taken longer for Turkey to integrate into the EU and this is due to the constitutions of Turkish Republic which have military features".

Bagis remarked that Turkey had tired ‘to overcome its ill fate' and carried out the democratization and EU accession processes together under the leadership of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan since 2002.

Indicating that they cleared the way of Turkey for the EU by ensuring the decision on starting the membership negotiations to be taken in 2004, 45 years after the first application for accession to the EU, Bagis noted that they endeavored to remove the barriers to EU accession process with the reform package, significantly amending the Constitution which was an outcome of 1980 military coup.

Bagis said:

‘It is such a big coincidence that the opportunity of democratization of the Constitution, which was an outcome of 12 September 1980 military coup, will be granted to Turkish nation on 12 September again. When our people have voted in favor of the constitutional reform package in referendum, Turkey will come one step closer to its target to become a member of the EU, which was stated in Ankara Agreement, signed with the efforts of the sainted Inonu on another 12 September day (1963).

On the anniversary of 27 May, as I express my longing for a more democratic Turkey, free of military constitutions, I convey my heartfelt gratitude firstly to the sainted Menderes, his colleagues and to the beloved children of Turkey who fought for the sake of democracy'.