“NATIONAL PRIDE OF ANKARA” AWARD GIVEN TO BAGIS

“Great Seymens” (Büyük Seğmen) awards were distributed to their holders by the metropolitan municipality of Ankara. Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiatior, Egemen Bagis was awarded within the category of “National Pride of Ankara”.

This award was given to Bagis because of his reaction to the Dutch right-wing politician, Barry Madlener, in a meeting held in Brussels last year. A year later, when Madlener wanted to give Bagis a book insulting Islam, Bagis said him: “Get lost, kid!”

The award ceremony was held in a hotel in Ankara and the mayor of the metropolitan municipality of Ankara, Melih Gokcek gave the award to Bagis. In his speech there, Bagis said that he was proud of having this award bearing the name of seymens who supported Ataturk during the war of independence.

Egemen Bagis also stated:

''If I were in a cabinet of a Prime minister who falters before the foreign leaders, I might have been doubtful in giving such answers then, but I work with a Prime minister who says: ‘one minute’ when necessary. Accordingly, I know that I will be responsible if I do not react to those who malign my values, my belief, my country, my nation and hence, I try to duly perform my duties.”

Bagis said that Ankara was the heart of Turkey for 89 years and he added: ''However, in the last decade, Ankara has also become the heart of all regions looking forward to a brighter future with hope. Now, Ankara is followed curiously in Damascus, in Cairo, in Bosnia-Herzegovina and in all over the world. Thank God that Turkey has achieved an important position”

In the ceremony where the successful people of the city and the people dedicated to Ankara were awarded, 11 people were given awards in 11 categories. Besides Egemen Bagis, Governor of Ankara, Alaaddin Yuksel, the president of the Ankara Chamber of Commerce Salih Bezci, Rector of Hacettepe University, Prof. Dr. A. Murat Tuncer, national athlete who won the first golden medal in olympics for Turkey, Aslı Çakır Alptekin, Melek Ipek, Meliha Yilmaz, Prof. Dr. Hakkı Acun, Nurettin Ozdebir, Mahmut Yigit and Hikmet Kaya were also awarded in the ceremony.

Source: AA