BAGIS CONGRATULATES CROATIA ON ITS EU MEMBERSHIP IN ZAGREB
Hırvatistan, AB'nin 28'inci üyesi olduAttending the celebrations, which were organized in Zagreb for Croatia’s accession to the EU, on behalf of Turkey, Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis congratulated Croatia on its EU membership and made important statements regarding Turkey’s EU accession process.
In the statement made to the press, Bagis said “Croatia’s EU accession means Turkey has won another friend in the EU. We have always believed that Croatia, as a friend and ally of Turkey, has a potential to affect EU member states positively on the issues that involve Turkey. I hope that the relations that we have established with Croatia after the negotiation process took place will make important contributions to Turkey as a result of the joint efforts between Turkey and Croatia during the negotiation process.
Furthermore, Minister Bagis indicated that during the EU membership process Turkey was confronted by so many obstacles and barricades that any other country had not been before, and added that Turkey’s EU membership was being delayed due to political reasons.
Emphasizing that Turkey would become one of the greatest and the most important countries of Europe upon its EU membership, which preoccupied certain circles in Europe, Bagis said “Turkey is determined about EU reforms. While Turkey is being criticized also in the progress reports, the EU confesses that Turkey has been undertaking the EU reforms. For Turkey, the EU process is more important than its result. This process is of great significance for Turkey to become a more democratic, transparent and prosperous country.
170 high-level government officials including 15 heads of state, 13 prime ministers, 3 parliamentary speakers, as well as Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis participated in the celebration ceremony where the Croatian Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic made the opening address and the Croatian President Ivo Josipovic made the closing address.
