52nd ANNIVERSARY OF TURKEY'S EEC PARTNERSHIP APPLICATION

Releasing a written message on the occasion of the 52nd anniversary of Turkey's application for partnership to the European Economic Community, Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis indicated that the EU process was the most important driving force behind the steps taken in Turkey's journey towards the "advanced democracy".

In his message Minister for EU Affairs Bagis noted:

"52 years ago today the late Menderes had given Turkey's EU journey a start and thus provided the concrete basis for our goal of going beyond the level of the contemporary civilizations which Ataturk, the founder of our Republic, pointed. This application on 31 July 1959 to the then named European Economic Community (EEC) was also doubtless one of the most important stages and turning points in our democracy history. Since then, in fact the most important driving force behind the steps taken in Turkey's path to the "advanced democracy" was the EU process itself and therefore the target of European Union membership continued to be pursued as a state policy of the Turkish Republic.

In this regard, I also feel honoured personally to attain this meaningful day as the first Minister for EU Affairs in our history of the Republic. Unfortunately I must also express that this is a bittersweet honour since this process couldn’t be finalized for 50 years. It is evident that for reasons arising from both Turkey and the EU side in the past, this process got stuck in a course it didn’t deserve at all.

As AK Party for 9 years, we are striving to make up for all these mistakes arising from Turkey in the past, trying to add on it and carry the advanced democracy journey of our country to the most developed standards. Indeed, Turkey under the leadership of our Prime Minister Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdogan succeeded in becoming a model country not only in its region but also throughout the world in terms of democracy, strong foreign policy and steady development moves.

It fell to AK Party government’s share both to receive a date for negotiations from the European Union at Brussels Summit on 17 December 2004 and to start accession negotiations on 3 October 2005 and today within the framework of alignment with the EU acquis, the most decisive reform steps are continuing to be taken during the AK Party government. 61. Establishment of Ministry for EU Affairs as a separate operational Ministry in the government and furthermore our Ministry’s being assigned with the task of “Chief Negotiatior” and “Chairmanship of the Negotiation Delegation" are indicators of AK Party’s determination to turn Turkey into a country at the EU standards. In the new term, under the leadership and instructions of our Prime Minister, Ministry for European Union Affairs will continue to perform its duties in the same harmony and coordination with all our Ministries.

Turkey is proceeding on its way to become a strong democracy constantly and continuing to take major steps. Every part of the society in Turkey are now performing their duties in line with the roles and within the framework of tasks assigned to them by democracy and law. Our democracy has now been completely purified from the residues of the tutelary and status quo mentality and it has made great progress on the way to the attainment of the most advanced standards.

On the other hand, as Turkey becomes stronger, freer and more developed, some groundless obstacles are continuing to be put in the way of Turkey’s EU membership. Spoiled attitudes of the Greek Cypriot Administration which was taken into the Union with a fait accompli and the policies of some member states hiding behind this attitude can’t continue forever in this way. It should be known that if these attitudes continue to be given credit while our relations which have a 52 year background are disregarded, Turkey will not remain indifferent to this. Turkey has always other alternatives and it has the willpower to implement these alternative plans when it deems necessary.

The latest developments in Europe have once again demonstrated how important Turkey’s EU membership is for the future of the continent. An EU without Turkey will continue to struggle with the economic crises. An EU without Turkey will be bound to remain incapable of fighting against extremism, fear and racist mentality the deplorable result of which we experienced with the Norwegian attack.

Despite all the pessimistic scenarios, I believe that real leaders who wouldn’t risk Turkey’s membership will come out in Europe and this big rendezvous to be realized.

I take this occasion to remember with gratitude and thankfulness all, notably the late Adnan Menderes and his friends, who exerted efforts in our EU target during this 52 year long process and who had faith in Turkey’s path to the contemporary civilization.”