MINISTER FOR EU AFFAIRS BAGIS RECEIVED EMINE BOZKURT, MEMBER OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis received Emine Bozkurt, member of the European Parliament.

In his speech during the reception at the Secretariat General for EU Affairs, Bagis stated that Bozkurt, as a person who shaped the politics of an EU member state through her work in the EP, was an exemplary politician for Turkish people in Europe who are approximately 6 million and especially for the young and for her he used the expression "one of the best examples that Turkey can be European".

Bagis reminded that EP elections were due soon and said that Bozkurt was nominated in the second place for the elections by the Social Democratic Party in the Netherlands where she lived and of which she was a citizen and this was a development to be proud of. Bagis stated that this showed that the Social Democratic Party in the Netherlands which is one of the most important countries in Europe considered a Turk to be the second most successful politician in the country.

Noting that Bozkurt some day criticised and some day praised Turkey, Bagis said, "I personally witnessed her continual loyalty to the lands from which her mother and father originated".

Bagis made reference to the effect of Bozkurt on shaping of Turkey reports in the EP, her efforts to set up Commission for Equality among Women and Men in the TGNA and her positive contributions, principally to women rights and to Turkey's Eurepeanisation process and its integration into the West.

Bozkurt in return said that it was the first time she had visited Bagis after he was appointed as a Minister and that she was in Turkey to follow the latest developments. Bozkurt, member of the European Parliament, added that they hoped cooperation with Turkey would continue in the best way possible.

Resource: AA