"WE CHANGE THE MINDSETS"

Speaking at the Carrier Platform of Cankaya University, Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis said "We demonstrated courage to change the constitutional article that prevent the trial of the putschers."

Starting his speech by touching upon the youth and dynamism of Turkey, Bagis noted that this is one of the most significant advantages for Turkey's negotiation with EU and international platforms. Stating that the young people were not in the minority in this country, Bagis said that while only 1% of the world's population was under the age of 33, 66 % of Turkey's population was under the age of 33 and half of the population was under the age of 28.

Expressing that today Turkey passed through a serious process , Bagis said these, " We also change the minds. Think that I was 10 years old when 12 September was realised. After 30 years passed, we demonstrated courage to change the article that prevent the trial of the putschers."

Indicating that people who were exposed to violence sometimes thought that "I wonder if I deserve this? Men both love and beat" and stated that in Turkey somebody fit into a ‘Sometimes a coup occurs' mentality and while they could change this mentality, they faced an opposition who persisted this.

Bagis noted that at present they were working for more modern and civil constitution, but these works would not be adequate and they would go to a referendum. Stating that the opposition tried to prevent the referendum, Bagis said , " This shows that the opposition party who is afraid of their people do not have a hope for coming to power democratically". Bagis noted that with such a mind Turkey does not have a chance to accede to the EU.

Source: AA