TURKEY WILL BE A DISTINGUISHED AND VALUABLE MEMBER OF EUROPEAN UNION

Attending the reception on the occasion of the Belgian National Day, in the residence of the Belgium Embassy, Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator, Egemen Bagis reminded that Belgium had taken over the EU presidency 12 times and would hold the presidency again for the last half of this year. He also said that at this period the relations between Ankara and Brussels would develop further.

Bagis underlined that the relations between Turkey and Belgium were not only related to Turkey's EU membership and he mentioned the importance of close cooperation in economic development, social policies, youth, creativity and regional issues which were on the agenda of Belgium for its presidency term period.

Bagis emphasized his belief that Turkey's EU accession negotiations would accelerate more during Belgium's presidency and he stated Turkey's decisiveness to do its part to be a reputable and valuable member of the European Union.

Bagis also pointed at to the Constitutional Amendment and he stated that the date ‘September 12' was important for Turkey at two points: one was the Ankara Agreement signed on 1963 between the EU and Turkey and the other was the military coup on September 12, 1980. Bagis declared that after the approval of the Constitutional Amendment in the referendum on September 12, Turkey would have a more transparent, reliable and effective democracy.

As regards the increasing terror terrorism in recent times, Bagis stated that they expected support from both Belgium and the EU and he concluded saying : "When everybody is not safe, nobody can be safe".

Source: AA