I AM NOT EU'S MINISTER FOR TURKEY BUT TURKEY'S MINISTEF FOR EU

Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis said that Turkey and Germany could overcome most of the problems through dialogue but, he added, they would do what is necessary for the benefits of the country and citizens.

After the opening ceremony of Sinop Boyabat Gunduzluler Association in Sultanbeyli, Bagis answered the questions of members of the press on the agenda. He stated that both Turkey and Germany were very powerful countries. Bagis said:

“We may have different views on various subjects. We negotiate on them and as two allied countries find a solution at a particular point in time. Germany is an important ally with which we do business most and which has the most number of firms accommodated in Turkey. Besides, it is the country which has the highest Turkish population. We can overcome this problem as many other problems through dialogue and negotiations with Germany. I don’t think that this should be considered as a crisis. Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the German Ambassador to Ankara to take his opinion. Our ambassador in Berlin gave the required information and made explanations. I, as the Chief Negotiator, have to remind the pacta sunt servanda principle on which the German Prime Minister always makes emphasis.

Nobody should expect me to behave like a minister of the EU in charge of Turkish affairs. President of the main opposition party could still not understand this. He may accept every offer made to him but I value the interests of my nation and country above anything else. I am not the minister of the EU in charge of Turkish affairs but the Minister for EU Affairs and the Chief Negotiator of the Republic of Turkey. Mr Prime Minister ordered us to hold our heads high but without being obstinate. We have made our best to carry out this instruction for 4.5 years. Nobody should expect us to change our position in the future. We shall do what is necessary for the benefit of our nation and country.