EGEMEN BAGIS VISITS PORTUGAL

Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis paid an official visit to Portugal’s capital Lisbon, and on the first of his visit Minister Bagis released a speech themed “Turkey-EU Relations: Time for a New Agenda” at the Catholic University of Portugal.

In his speech, Bagis qualified the European Union as the most successful project through the human history and remarked that this project could only be completed by Turkey's accession which would play a key role to turn the continental peace into a global one.  Minister Bagis said “The Europe is need of a long-term, innovative and comprehensive strategy and I think that Turkey would contribute significantly to Europe in this respect”.

On the second day of his visit, Minister Bagis was hosted by the President of Portugal Cavaco Silva. Following the talks in the Portugal Presidency Palace, Bagis also paid a visit to the Secretary of State and the Minister for Foreign Affairs Paulo Portas. Discussing Turkey's accession negotiations to the EU and the latest situation in Syria and Middle East, then two ministers held a joint press conference.

Afterwards, Minister Bagis met with Prime Minister Passos Coelho and attended the opening of the "Turkey: The Lost Star" organization on the last day.

In his statement to the press after the official visits, Minister Bagis marked that he had a warm welcome in Portugal and had very positive high-level meetings and said "Portugal has always had a positive approach towards Turkey's EU process. There has been no one in Portugal who has tried to make politics over the accession hopes as was the case with Germany, France or Austria. I have seen a Portugal who has a more respective attitude towards Turkey."