BAGIS' STATEMENT TO LA REPUBLICA

Daily Italian newspaper La Republica issued an interview conducted with Egemen Bagis, Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator, within a file on Turkey on June 6, 2010.

Bagis's statement that "We are a great power and we want to be in the EU" was used at the title of a three page essay.

In the interview Egemen Bagis stated that EU accession issue continued to have a priority in Turkey's foreign policy.

Responding to a question on the Israeli attack on Gaza aid ship Mavi Marmara, Bagis said: "An attack on a civil ship carrying humanitarian aid materials on international seas is inacceptable. This is state terrorism. We will continue to be on the side of international law. We are not against the rights of Israel. However, Netanyayu should take the responsibility of that piracy and terrorist action."

Reminding that there were not only Turks but also other people from 32 different nations in the attacked ship, Bagis said "for that reason the international community must cooperate to start an investigation which will enlighten the dark points behind this terrible attack."

Stating that the UN Security Council condemned the operation and NATO, Arabic Union and Islamic Conference Organisation also reacted against it, Bagis said: "Messages condemning the operation came also from the European Union. The Prime Minister is in negotiation with many leaders and he believes that the EU should take more specific measures. Many European countries want the operation to be investigated by Israel. This is not the correct way. If the EU, instead of transferring the issue to the other side, had preferred to do it itself it would have been much better.