WE ARE HOPING FOR A BRAND NEW TERM IN TURKEY-FRANCE RELATIONS

Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator, Egemen Bagis answered the questions of the journalists and upon a question regarding the elections in France, he said: 'We hope that with Mr. Hollande, we will enter a new period both in Turkey-France relations and in Turkey-EU relations.”

In his statement at Istanbul Ataturk Airport, before his departure to Brussels, Bagis said that he would meet with government authorities and non-governmental organizations in Brussels and he added: “Brussels, the capital of the European Union is also the capital of Belgium. In the past, Belgium supported Turkey’s EU membership. After the elections Belgium experienced a political crisis in establishing a government. Belgium did not have a government for about 500 days and it was governed with a temporary government.  Now we will have the opportunity to meet with the Foreign Minister of Belgium and the deputy prime minister responsible for the European Union issues. ”

Upon a question regarding the elections in France Bagis said:

''Turkey’s attitude would also have changed even if Mr Sarkozy had won. The frosty approach displayed by Mr Sarkozy's to Turkey before the elections is a kind of approach that harms the national interests of France. The best example of this is the trouble that French firms faced in Turkey. As the Turkish firms began not to prefer French firms for partnerships, French economy began to be badly affected by this. If Mr Sarkozy had won, he would have had to establish better relations with Turkey as a result of the pressure of the French business world and for the sake of France’s national interests. During the election campaign Hollande did not deliver speeches against Turkey. He was careful not to mention issues to which Turkey is sensitive.  He showed his eagerness to enter a new period in his phone call with our Prime Minister and in his meeting with our President in Chicago. We have had relations with France since the 1400s and we hope that our relations will progress further.

We also hope for a new period with Hollande both in Turkey-France and Turkey-EU relations. I expect that Hollande will pursue the national interests of France and the people who voted for him; and I also hope that he will appreciate the value of Turkey which is the transition point for a quarter of the world and which has a market of 75 million. Having bad relations with Turkey will also not serve the benefit of French public and Hollande; it can only cause damage to national interests of France. ''

Source: AA