BAGIS'S STATEMENT ON THE INVESTIGATION THAT SWISS PUBLIC PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE HAS LAUNCHED

Bagis, before departing for Brussels, made a statement at the Ataturk Airport and said that he was going to Brussels to make several visits and he would make statements in some broadcasting organizations. Minister Bagis, referring also to the preliminary investigation that the Swiss Public Prosecutor’s Office launched regarding his remarks said:

“I would like to address your questions  about an unnecessary preliminary investigation that a  prosecutor   launchedin Switzerland yesterday.  As far as I understand, this is the preliminary investigation phase. Nothing has been notified to me officially. But just like you, I also learned from the media that the preliminary investigation was launched. Yesterday, immediately after the event was heard, our Minister of Foreign Affairs gave instructions to the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Swiss Ambassador was summoned to the Ministry. He was asked for an explanation. At this time, we are closely following the issue. We believe that this may also be an opportunity for Swiss authorities to review the historical facts If this is intentional and based on the understanding of ‘He that steals can hide’, we shall not participate in this. a role . Turkey’s history of  is unblemished compared to the histories  of the countries which pose these challenges. . Challenging Turkey on painful events that has been suffered in the past or on issues such as  human rights and freedom of expression or is certainly not tolerable when made by these kinds of countries.

Bagis stated that he was not affected by such investigations. He reminded that he had been  investigated by the Constitutional Court for saying “The MP should be as the people.”  Bagis continued as follows:

“We are at ease, Turkey has no drawbacks on this issue. We have no hesitation. I would like to make a call from here. The Public Prosecutor in Zurich should not waste time by investigating this issue. ‘The events of 1915 was not a genocide’ This is what I said there and I am repeating thishere today. No one should doubt that I will give the same answer anytime I am asked. What do  I base it on? I speak relying on the documents and archives. In 2003, Our President called Armenia with a letter. He said: “Let’s come together, we are opening our archives to the last. You should open your archives too. Let’s demand it from third countries; they should also open the archives. We told Armenia that we were ready to face our history if they were ready to face theirs’, but didn’t get any response. Now, it is unacceptable that Armenia is trying to put pressure on Turkey in different ways and through political consideration. As our Prime Minister has announced in the aftermath of the decision taken in France, we can say that “such initiatives are nonsense.” We will not be affected by those initiatives. The founding principle of the EU is based on the freedom of expression. According to decisions and values of the EU, everyone has the right to freely express his beliefs. I don’t recognize any power that can arrest a minister of the Turkish Republic. I am at ease with it.”

Mentioning the Swiss saying “those who think less, speak more”, Bagis said “Unfortunately not only in Switzerland but also in some other EU countries there is some attitudes  that think less and speak much, and that try to create discord  among people and threaten the freedoms today. We won’t be affected by them. As Turkey, we are at ease about it. Our Prime Minister’s call is still valid. Those who hold some records and documents can present them and the historians can discuss the issue.”

Indicating that they opened the archives, Egemen Bagis said “Not only those in Turkey or in Armenia, but the archives in Germany, USA, France, Russia and Great Britain should be opened also. The historians should discuss altogether and introduce some academic works. Only then can we, the politicians, use those reports about the past and make a judgment for the future. Yet, we don’t and won’t approve execution without due process.”

Upon a question asking if he would make a statement to the foreign press also, Bagis said there was no such  genocide in the documents and archives he examined and that they wouldn’t approve this execution without due process. Indicating that he would meet foreign press members in Brussels, Bagis said he would answer the same way if such a question were to be asked.

Minister Bagis continued his speech as follows: “I would like to emphasize a point. Switzerland is not a member of the EU. A decision taken in Switzerland shouldn’t be considered as an EU decision. Switzerland is a country that shows its attitude in a harsh manner as it had banned the minarets in the past. Today we will continue to point out the mistakes made. Friendship requires honesty. A friend speaks the truth. .”

Upon another question, Bagis said “We can leave Davos once more, if needed. Everyone should be at ease about it. We have no reservations.”

Source: AA