TURKEY IS HOPE FOR EU

Speaking at the luncheon hosted within the framework of Istanbul Summit program of the European Business Press (EBP), Egemen Bagis touched upon the EU process and said: "We will not give up in the future. We are determined and will continue on our path."

Pointing to the fact that the average growth figure of the European economy was 1.5 percent, while the Turkish economy grew around 11.7 percent in the first half of 2010, Minister for EU Affairs Bagis stated that in 2007, 2008 and 2010 no financial institution or bank had losses in Turkey.

Stating that the energy issue was highly important for Europe nowadays, Egemen Bagis declared that the 70 percent of all energy resources needed by Europe was around the Turkish borders and it was a mishap that the EU energy chapter had not yet been opened to negotiations with Turkey.

Touching on the issue of adaptation, Bagis stated that Turkey had very well integrated Islam and democracy for over two centuries, and he said: "I believe that such a trait of Turkey will have an effect on Turkey's becoming an EU member".

Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Bagis said that Turkey was a hope. Turkey was a hope for energy, dialogue, peace and communication.

Stressing that different religions and cultures lived in Istanbul in tolerance for centuries, Bagis said that such a reality render Turkey a very distinctive country.

Source: AA

TURKEY IS HOPE FOR EU

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