EGEMEN BAGIS SAID THAT 2014 WOULD BE A YEAR OF SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE FOR EU PROCESS

Replying the questions on the agenda on NTV tv channel, Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis said “I believe that 2014 will be a year of significant milestone for EU process”.

Bagis, stating that all institutions and business world of Turkey had a significant contribution to visa exemption process, said “The architect of the visa exemption process is our Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan who recommended us to stand firm without getting stubborn and who personally followed each stage of this process.”

Minister Bagis, indicating that EU was convinced in many issues with a strategy followed and directed by the Prime Minister Erdogan, which initially considered as “is it possible to make it approved?”, said “Eventually, Turkey starts the negotiations on visa exemption with its own conditions. I hope that the Readmission Agreement and visa exemption process will be carried out in parallel and they will both enter into force almost at the same time.”

Bagis, stating that the financial burden related to the readmission would be covered by the pre-accession funds allocated for Turkey by EU, continued his speech as the followings:

“Through these funds, some facilities will be established. For instance, language laboratories will be established in Turkey. For instance, someone who speaks in Urdu language will not be automatically considered as Pakistani and sent to Pakistan; language laboratories will be established as it is in Europe, in order to determine whether he actually speaks in Pakistani Urdu, Indian Urdu or Bangladeshi Urdu. Shelters will be established for providing civilized and humanitarian living environments for those who come back.”

Minister Bagis stressed that they insistently underlined that Turkey would withdraw from any issue relating to re-admission unless the visa exemption would be implemented.

Bagis, upon questions on the speed of Turkey in closing the chapters in EU negotiations, said the followings:

“Turkey opened 14 chapters and has the position to close 12 of them unless there is political blockage. The Council decision adopted following the application of Greek Cypriots, prevents Turkey to close the chapter even if it fulfills all of the closing criteria. However, in these days a process starts in terms of the solution of Cyprus issue. If there is a solution based on the political equality in Cyprus, the blockages on 14 of 16 chapters, which are currently blocked, will be removed, as well as the blockages on the closing. I believe that 2014 will be a year of significant milestone for EU process”.