EU FUNDS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR ISTANBUL

The meeting of the non-governmental organizations on “EU funds and opportunities for Istanbul” hosted by Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis was held in Halic Congress Center with a broad participation.

Stating that the non-governmental organizations were important in terms of Turkey’s EU accession process, Bagis said that they were at first a bit anxious about the gathering of the non-governmental organizations but, he added, they observed that everyone contributed to the process.

Emphasizing that Istanbul had been the center of tolerance thoroughout the history, Bagis said that in Istanbul many people from different religions lived in peace and confidence. Stating that that tolerance should be taken as an example by the EU, Bagis said the following:

All these words: ‘parev’, ‘kalimera’, ‘rojbaş’, ‘şalom’, ‘bonjour’, ‘hello’, ‘selamun aleyküm’ will gain power with the word ‘merhaba’ in Istanbul and will bring us to a very different point in the EU accession process. Last year in Europe, the people living in Europe confronted with İslamphobia with an increasing rate. Istanbul is the remedy to this situation. Today, we unfortunately witness that there are those in Europe who enter the mosques and leave pig heads there. It is for sure that these people need to be treated urgently. We are carrying out very important works which will pave the way for different belief groups.