TURKEY IS ACHIEVING MORE

Participating the first informational meeting of "Municipalities are preparing for EU" Project in Gaziantep, Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis emphasized that Turkey was experiencing important developments and changes in all fields during the EU accession process.

Making a speech during the meeting which was organized jointly by the Secretariat General for European Union Affairs (EUSG) and Union of Municipalities of Turkey (UMT), Bagis pointed out that Turkey's agenda was always occupied with democracy, human rights and more freedoms since the EU accession process began.

Bagis said "Turkey is no more a country begging at the EU's door, making concessions to the minds that are afraid of democratization, modernization and transparency that the EU represents.

Indicating that only the government's determination was not adequate during the EU accession process; Bagis pointed out that the NGO's, academic environments, media and local administrators were needed to contribute this determination.

Expressing that Turkey was going in the right direction and for this reason he wanted to call people attempting to give them a note, Bagis said "Are there any suggestion that you offered us and we couldn't realize? Do you have any new ideas for Turkey's progress during the EU accession process? It is not only my problem; it is also everyone's problem. We emphasize on every occasion that in these fields we were open to everyone's ideas. I believe that after this meeting, mayors would interest in the EU accession process more consciously."

Minister Bagis wanted from the participants of the meeting that they would struggle more to benefit from the EU funds.

Source: AA