BAGIS MEETS THE CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND DEFENSE COMMITTEE OF THE CZECH SENATE

Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis met Jiri Dienstbier, the Chairman of Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee of the Czech senate and the members of the Committee in Istanbul Movenpick Hotel.

In the statement he made after the meeting Bagis said he had answered the questions of his guests on Turkey's EU accession process and the progress made in negotiations.

Indicating that the Czech delegation asked him what the greatest obstacle before Turkey was in EU accession negotiations, Bagis said: "I told them it was the internal and external prejudices and I said actually what we were carrying out, I mean the EU accession process of Turkey itself was a process to breakdown the prejudices."

Stating that he also explained the steps taken, efforts and preparations made in order to make Turkey and the EU understand each other better, Bagis said that he had informed the delegation about his meeting two days ago in Brussels with Stefan Fule, former Czech minister for European affairs and the new EU Commissioner for Enlargement.

Bagis said he had expressed in the meeting that Fule would be a fair and objective commissioner and his guests had agreed with him on that issue.

Stating that it was a very fruitful meeting, Bagis said the Czech delegation also expressed its opinion that Turkey should continue the negotiation process with the EU and become an EU member when the negotiations are completed.

Source: AA