ISLAM IS A REALITY IN EUROPE

Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis gave an interview to Baltic News Service (BNS) which was published in The Lithuania Tribune news portal. With respect to Turkey’s EU accession process Bagis said: “I am sure there are some people within some parts of Europe who reject Turkey based on the predominant religion of Turkey. But I don’t think it is a relevant issue because Islam is also a European reality.”

Bagis indicated that Turkey’s ability to have Islam and democracy coexisting together could help fight extremism in Europe where the Muslim population will continue to rise.

Bagis pointed out that 11% of the population in France and 9% of the population in Germany consisted of Muslims and by 2025 more than %10 of the European population would be Muslims and continued: “I am sure there are some people within some parts of Europe who reject Turkey based on the predominant religion of Turkey. But I don’t think it is a relevant issue because Islam is also a European reality.”

Bagis stated that terrorist attacks or acts of violence in recent years such as the ones in London and Pairs had been masterminded by people born in Europe and who were effected by wrong ideas and he added: “So a European country like Turkey, which has a predominant Islamic fate but has a great example of co-existence of free market economy, supremacy of law and democracy, can give a very strong message which will be the antidote to the sick messages that are poisoning some Muslim minds in Europe.”

Minister Bagis said Ankara hoped that the forthcoming Lithuanian EU Presidency would provide a new impetus to Turkey’s stalled EU accession talks.

Bagis continued as follows: “We are hoping to open one chapter in June during the Irish Presidency, a chapter on regional policy, but we are hoping for a new momentum in the relationship during the Lithuanian Presidency.”

With respect to the Cyprus issue Bagis said: “I assured the Lithuanian foreign minister that if during the Lithuanian Presidency they would like to organise a conference between Turkey, Greece, Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots, Turkey and Turkish Cypriots would be there”.

Source: http://www.lithuaniatribune.com/33222/interview-with-turkish-minister-in-vilnius-islam-is-european-reality-201333222/