BAGIS SAYS AK PARTY HAS MADE ITS GREATEST CONTRIBUTIONS AND INVESTMENT TO DEMOCRACY IN THE LAST 7 YEARS

Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis attended the Provincial Congress of AK Party in Tekirdag which was held in Ismet Inonu Sports Hall. Delivering a speech here, Bagis said that though AK Party is a young party, it proved to be successful in all elections it had joined since its establishment.

Bagis said that they would continue to take the necessary steps to strengthen democracy to which AK Party has made the greatest contributions and investment in the last 7 years.

Bagis stated that they would continue to work under the framework of coordination in order to bring Turkey to the standards of the EU countries and bring democracy, economic welfare and freedom of expression to the country.

Stating that he tried to fulfill his responsibility during the process, Bagis continued his speech as follows:

"We never forget the fact that the EU project is the common project of Turkey, it is not only government's project but a common one which is the project of the government and the opponent, the women and the men, the young and the old, the soldier and the civilian, the easterner and the westerner, the employee and the employer."

Stating that they aimed at a "concrete EU standard" instead of an imaginary future, Bagis said "Beyond Ipsala and Kapıkule start the prosperity, wealth and freedom of expression. Our people aren't less hard-working than those people living beyond the border, on the contrary our people are more hard-working. They aren't less clever; they are at least as clever as those people. They aren't less determined; they are more determined and faithful than those people. I see that we really need coordination in the EU process which we consider as the most important tool in achieving the EU standards and in achieving the aim of reaching the level of the contemporary civilizations which was shown by Ataturk."

Bagis stated that, in order to reach their aims in the EU process, he visited each political party in the assembly and received positive reactions about their support in the process and he hoped that the parties would keep their promise.

Bagis said the fact that even very simple issues are delayed and the discussions are extended made them sad and he added "Then we can't help thinking who is responsible for the slowdown in the EU process, if there is any slowdown. But I hope that we will overcome these difficulties all together. We think we have to work together for Turkey to reach a brighter future."

Reminding that he visited and congratulated the CHP mayor who won the elections in Tekirdag, Bagis reported that his behavior was suitable for a political party which claims to "embrace Turkey."

Stating that the rivalry was until the elections, Bagis said it was everyone's common duty to involve in Tekirdag's problems and to develop this city and Turkey accordingly. Bagis also stated that they exchanged ideas with Tekirdag mayor and the deputies for Tekirdag to receive the EU funds it deserved and emphasized that they had to solve Tekirdag's problems together.

Stating that as the EU process would make Turkey more democratic and modern during the course, it would also affect negatively some interest-focused expectations, Bagis continued his speech as follows:

"Those who expect the gangs to rule the country as in the dark periods of our country in the past unfortunately don't like the EU process. They don't want our country to become transparent and don't want democracy to dominate. Similarly, some interest-focused formations in the EU don't want Turkey to progress in the EU path.

Some member states which are among the founders of the EU try to obstruct Turkey's membership as they fear that a young, dynamic and hard working country like Turkey would have more seats than them in the European Parliament, would have a voice in the budget and would have more representatives in the decision making mechanism the day it becomes a member of the EU. However the internal and external resistances should know that AK Party ruling has done in two years what couldn't be done in 45 years and is decisive and won't throw in the towel. They shouldn't celebrate this, we won't give up. I hope that to make Turkey a full EU member would be vouchsafed to AK Party."

Bagis also mentioned the critics of the opponent parties that AK Party lost the desire for EU and said "We don't have childish enthusiasm to work in whim. We protect Turkey's interest. We do whatever is necessary to protect Turkey's interest. Turkey would be very successful once our opponent leaders stop reading other's minds and thoughts and come together for the common future of Turkey"

Resource: AA