THIRD CONFERENCE OF AMBASSADORS

Within the scope of Third Conference of Ambassadors, a session titled "A Balance Sheet at the Fifth Year of Our EU Membership Process: Negotiations and Reform Process" was held with the participation of Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ahmet Davutoglu and Minister of Justice Sadullah Ergin.

Minister for EU Affairs Bagis also delivered a speech at the session which was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and of which opening speech was made by Minister Davutoglu.

In his speech he delivered, emphasizing that they had no intention to stop working on the negotiation chapters just because some of those chapters were suspended or blocked during the EU negotiation process, Bagis noted that they continued their efforts in close and efficient cooperation with all the relevant public institutions and bodies on the basis of opening and closing criteria obtained either officially or unofficially.

Indicating that thanks to the efforts they made, Turkey was now technically in a position to open 16 more chapters and close 12 more chapters in the short and medium term in addition to already opened 13 chapters, Bagis said that it was also noted in the EU's progress report on Turkey that progress was made in all chapters.

Bagis said:

"The blockage of the energy chapter, which could constitute one of the most important cooperation areas between the EU and our country, by an EU member country which least needs energy, creates a tragicomic situation. Similarly, it is also thought provoking that this member country, which is sovereign on one part of the beautiful island of Mediterranean Sea, is the only country which trades with the TRNC, while it blocks trade between the TRNC and the other EU member countries. On the other hand, we demand closer cooperation and more concrete support from the EU countries in Turkey's fight against terrorism."

Noting that the esteemed ambassadors played the most important role in averting the injustices Turkey faced, Bagis stated that thanks to their diplomatic efforts, Turkey made its rightfulness known throughout the world.

Source: AA