LA REPUBBLICA’S SPECIAL FILE ON TURKEY

In his statement he made to the Italian newspaper, ''La Repubblica'', Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis referred to the Turkey-EU relations and other issues on the agenda.    

In this statement, which is published in the three-paged special file of La Repubblica on Turkey, Bagis replied the questions of Marco Ansaldo about the obstacles regarding the Turkey-EU relations and he said:

"At Turkey’s table, everybody has a place. EU used to be a Union based on this idea and there used to be a place for everybody also at the EU’s table. Unfortunately, today, the meals in the EU table are poisoned with the spices of racism and bias and there are circles who want to spread the mentality that only the ones desiring to taste this poison can sit at this table."

Upon a question regarding Turkey’s goal in the EU path, Minister Bagis said “Turkey’s EU accession process is our driving force behind becoming a democratic, transparent and prosperous country. Turkey’s EU process is a process of reforms that would enable Turkey to attain the highest democratic standards. Thus, we believe the process itself is more important than the outcome.” Bagis indicated that Turkey’s EU accession would be the antidote to the attitude that leads Europe to poverty and to intolerance, Islamophobia and extremism.

Upon a question regarding Turkey-Israel relations, Bagis said:

“No country has the right to kill the citizens of another country in international waters. Only the pirates do this. Israel must apologize from Turkey, pay compensation to the families of the victims of its attack on the Mavi Marmara and lift the illegal and unjustifiable embargo on Gaza if it wants to normalize its relations with Turkey.”