"AS TURKEY GETS STRONGER, IT BECOMES INDISPENSABLE TO EU"

Meeting with the representatives of the press in Esma Sultan Mansion, Minister for EU Affairs and the Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis evaluated Turkey's communication strategy for the EU and listened to other views and proposals.

Bagis said: "It is easy for Turkey to be a member of the EU by simply giving in. But, we, as Turkey want to make our contributions to EU with an awareness of our cultural richness and our power. We want to be a member of the EU by holding our heads high, without being surrendered and without being obstinate.

When he was asked about his proposal related to discussing the EU issues for a week in TGNA, Bagis stated that the issue had been addressed in the Reform Monitoring Group meeting. Stating that they had decided to convey the issue to the Board of Ministers and that they shared it with the president of TGNA, Bagis emphasized that Prime Minister Erdogan would give the necessary support to them.

Stating that EU was one of the most important projects of the government, Bagis reminded that the opposition parties had also identified the EU, in their programs, as the government's project.

Bagis said: "The opposition parties claim that they would give us their support. If so, let us see that support. Let us dedicate one week to EU laws each month and carry out the discussions in the commissions but when the EU laws are brought to the General Assembly, let us all vote them without any discussion."

Putting forth that the EU process was the process of all segments in Turkey, Bagis said: "In this process there does not exist the right and the left, the employee and the employer, the military men and the civilian, the women and the men. In order to attain a more prosperous future we should work all together."

"We, as Turkey, managed to bring together different cultures, religions and different civilizations. Turkey is the world's 16th and Europe's 6th largest economy. Turkey has one of the youngest and most dynamic populations in the world.

Upon a question regarding the opening of the environment chapter in the negotiation process, Bagis stated that in a country where there were explosions in the rubbish damps and where gas masks used to be distributed 15 years ago, the opening of the environment chapter showed that certain responsiveness to this issue were attained.

Pointing out that in Europe, those who realized the importance of Turkey for the EU were greater in number than those who didn't, Bagis said that the importance of Turkey in the EU was increasing every passing day.

Bagis stated that Turkey should ‘focus its attention on the reforms' and said that the standards reached today wouldn't be sufficient, but due to the current Constitution the point which could be reached was limited.

Indicating that new European Parliament, Enlargement Report and Turkey Report which was expected to be adopted in January 2010 would express support given to Turkey, Bagis stressed that the EU membership was a strategic target for Turkey.

Noting that Turkey needed a new Constitution whether it became a member to the EU or not, Egemen Bagis stated that the issue of a new constitution should not be a political matter.

Indicating that the EU was ‘like a pill healing every illness' for Turkey, Bagis stated that time was in favour of Turkey and said, "As Turkey grows stronger with every passing day, it becomes indispensable for the EU."

With regard to delay of work, Secretary General for EU Affairs Volkan Bozkir said, "There is delay because we will become a member to the EU as Turkey. It is not easy for the EU on the other hand as it will take us as Turkey. What we need is moral support and to awaken and take action."

Source: AA