SIGNIFICANT REFORMS IN THE EU PROCESS

In the speech the Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis delivered during the visit to governor of Aydın, Huseyin Avni Cos, he pointed out that significant reforms have been carried out in the EU process.

Stating that the EU process was the greatest modernization process after the foundation of Republic, he said the following:

"Turkey was a country that burned the books 30 years ago, now she is a country that is about to have a constitution in compliance with the EU standards. She is the 16th biggest economy of the world and the 6th of the Europe. On the 100th anniversary of the foundation of the Republic, she will be the 10th biggest economy of the world. Turkey will continue to develop and get rich."

Bagis attended the meeting that was held in Aydın Cultural Centre called "The Assembly of harmonization, conferring and inducement of Aydın to EU process". Stating that a lot of things have changed in Turkey in the EU process and that Turkey has become democratic and modernized, Bagis uttered that there were borrowed days to have a constitution in compliance with the EU standards.

Pointing out that with every reform made, Turkey was gradually becoming a country in compliance with the EU standards, Bagis said "Turkey has irremeably entered a period of modernization."

Telling that he was asked "Is this constitutional amendment package enough?" Bagis continued as follows:

"I wish oppositional parties supported more and we could prepare a more comprehensive constitutional amendment package. We strived a lot. We brought this package to you by our efforts and by doing the best that we could do. We worked till mornings for 3 months in Parliamentary order to pass this package. Yet, CHP appealed to Constitutional Court. Then, Constitutional Court, by hoping the good, made and confirmed changes in two articles in compliance with us. Now, CHP, which could not attain what it expected from constitutional court, goes from door to door by advising to vote "No".

Emphasizing that Turkey should have a democracy in compliance with the EU standards; Bagis said "12th of September was a milestone in the 50 years of democracy of Turkey. We should be a party to democracy."

Source: AA