PORTUGAL SUPPORTS TURKEY'S EU BID

Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis paid an official visit to Lisbon, Portugal and said "Those countries resisting Turkey's accession will not be successful, just as they were not successful in the Portuguese case."

Egemen Bagis held meetings respectively with President of the Assembly Jaime Gama, Foreign Minister Luis Amado, and the Secretary of State for European Affairs Pedro Lourtie. Bagis indicated that the meetings were considerably fruitful in which Turkey's EU accession process was addressed.

Indicating that Portugal which accessed the EU in 1985 experienced a similar process as Turkey, Bagis criticized the countries resisting Turkey's accession and added that Turkey would be a member in the long run.

Minister Bagis continued his speech as follows:

"We will continue with determination and patience to explain how a key country Turkey is in solving the problems of the EU. The Europeans will understand this fact sooner or later. However, we attach importance to the support of countries like Portugal, which are welcoming Turkey's accession."

Delivering a speech in the joint press meeting, Secretary of State for European Affairs Pedro Lourtie pointed out that in addition to good economic relations, the two countries enjoyed excellent political relations and emphasized that they "strongly supported" Turkey's EU membership bid. "We believe Turkey's accession would be in the interest of both Turkey and the EU" said Lourtie and added that they hoped to open new chapters in the negotiation process and worked in this regard.

Source: AA