CNN INTERNATIONAL'S JOHN DEFTERIOS HOSTS EGEMEN BAGIS

2013.06.04_CNN International_Egemen Bagis_cut.flv_snapshot_03.06_[2013.06.05_10.44.53] (Custom)Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis appeared as an on-air guest in a news program broadcast in CNN International and answered the questions on the events in Taksim Gezi Park. Stating that they were investigating the claims on the excessive use of power and said: "We are the government of 75 million, both of those voted in favour of and against us".

Stating that Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arınc had conveyed the opinion of the government, Bagis emphasized that the people applying excessive force and acting in a bad manner were investigated, and that they were the government of 75 million, both of those voted in favour of and against them.

Bagis stated that as a result of the tear gas used by the police unfortunately against the innocent people who wanted to protect the trees in Taksim Gezi Park, the people supporting them also participated and the group enlarged. Minister Bagis also said that there were also groups wishing to take advantage of peaceful demonstrations and that groundless accusations claiming that many people were wounded had been stated in the social media and thus, all these caused turmoil.

Underlying that Turkey was passing through a critical period, Bagis said that they put an end to terrorism claiming the lives of more than 40 thousand people for years. He added that this would serve greatly to the economic interest of the country and some governments which could not tolerate Turkey’s growth in the region were uncomfortable about the powerful government and economy in Ankara.

Bagis stated that among the demonstrators there were innocent people wishing to protect the trees in Taksim Gezi Park, the opponents and also the people wanting to take advantage of this situation through vandalism. Bagis added that public properties as well as private properties were attacked and more than 200 police officers were injured.