WE WILL MAINTAIN OUR VALUES IN THE EU ACCESSION PROCESS

Participating in the "EU Harmonization, Consultation and Steering Board Extended Meeting" in Sanliurfa, Minister for the EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator, Egemen Bagis met with the executives of the province and representatives of the NGOs.

Delivering a speech at the meeting held in the conference hall of Sanliurfa Industrial Vocational High School, Minister Bagis pointed out that the "EU Harmonization, Consultation and Steering Board" offices were established in all of the 81 provinces, and by this means the EU harmonization works were being carried out all around the Anatolia.

Indicating that not only a few provinces but also Turkey as a whole would be an EU member, Minister Bagis said:"We should be open to the contributions of anyone in this respect."

Expressing that Turkey's interest in the EU would grow as the citizens kept well informed and as they learned the gains of Turkey in the EU Accession Process, Minister Bagis said:"Of course we will maintain our own culture, values and unity in the EU Accession Process but while maintaining those values and the waving of our flag, we will also ensure a more prosperous, richer and healthier life for our citizens on the land where our flag waves."

Noting that Turkey was no more a country that would wait at the EU's door like a docile supplicant, rather it became a self-sustained country, Minister Bagis said:

"Nonetheless we are a country believing that this peace project is important in terms of humanity's future. Therefore we are not throwing in the towel. Therefore we are not pulling the plug. Late Ozal made a warning just at the time when Turkey was about to apply for the EU membership in 1980s and said: 'from now on we are on a long and narrow road, there will be the ones who want us to get tired of, there will be the ones who want us to be angry and to throw in the towel.' It seems as if he had foreseen the events of today. But we should not get tired of; we should not throw in the towel."

Source: AA