THE THIRD CIVIL SOCIETY DIALOGUE MEETING HELD IN ISTANBUL

"Turkey's New EU Strategy and Accession Process – Civil Society Dialogue" meeting was held in Istanbul Grand Cevahir Hotel and Congress Centre with the attendance of the Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis and Secretary General for EU Affairs Ambassador Volkan Bozkir.

At the meeing in which more than 1200 participants were registered and nearly 600 non-governmental organizations participated, representatives of 58 different non-governmental organizations made speeches.

Minister Bagis, in his speech he delivered at the meeting, said that he regarded all non-governmental organizations in Turkey as the delegates of EU and as the natural members of the negotiation committee and EU process of Turkey.

In his speech he delivered at the meeting named "Turkey's New EU Strategy and Accession Process - Civil Society Dialogue", Bagis said that they attached great importance to civil society in Turkey's EU accession process.

Reminding that Istanbul which had been the capital city of three civilisations in the history now has become the European Capital of Culture, Bagis stated that people of different religions and sects have been living together peacefully in Istanbul for centuries.

Bagis said that the minds questioning the right to construct minarets in Europe should have understood the tolerance, brotherhood and solidarity in Istanbul and continued:

"As I always say, I cannot think of a Europe without Istanbul. Therefore, helding this meeting in Istanbul and bringing together different colours and civil society organisations of Turkey is an Istanbul declaration. This is a call for the EU."

Indicating that supporting EU membership which is the most important modernisation project would mean to support democracy, stability and peace in Turkey also, Bagis said: "Supporting the EU would mean a support given to Turkey's effort to achieve modern standards. Believing in Turkey's membership to the EU would mean a belief in the evolution and transformation of Turkey. It is to defend the respect paid to individual freedoms and personal life."

Pointing to the importance of democracy as the link between the individual and the state, Bagis said that the establishment of that link required great care and patience just like a silk cocoon.

Bagis said that there was a politically democratic system in Turkey but it should have been taken out of the Turkish Grand National Assembly in order to be established in all other institutions too.

Stating that they considered the civil society organisations as the organic elements of democracy, Bagis said those organisations too had problems some of which had been solved last year but some others remained unresolved.

Bagis said that the problems of the civil society organisations were directly linked with a modern and fair legal system and they attached great importance to the support of the civil society for the EU accession process.

Bagis said: "You will reshape the European public opinion on Turkey in a positive manner by means of the bridges you will establish with your counterparts in EU Member States. Citizens of the European countries will vote for Turkey's membership."

Pointing to the fact that civil society organisations had a significant role in the new EU strategy, Bagis said: "When Turkey becomes an EU member, it won't be only on the state basis. Turkey will take part in the EU together with its all sections; the state, civil society, and different circles."

Expressing that Turkey had no endurance left for a postponement or delay in the EU accession process, Bagis noted: "the reforms realized in the last seven years are the most significant impetus of the EU accession process."

Stating that the egocentric mentality had been the main cause of many problems in Turkey, Bagis said they should get rid of that mentality and he expressed his hope that the country would see better days with a new sociocentric mentality.

Source: AA