EU IS A PROJECT WHICH WILL UNITE NOT ONLY TURKISH SOCIETY BUT ALSO WORLD

Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis who attended the announcement of a health investment which Athens-based Hygeia Group made in partnership with Safak Hospitals Group began his speech he made there saying that he brought the greetings of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Dimitris Avramopoulos, Health and Social Solidarity Minister of Greece and said that they came together for an important investment which embodies mercy and compassion in the area of health.

Stressing the developing relations with Greece in 10 years, Bagis stated that the number of air corridors between the two countries being increased to 11, partnerships in the natural gas pipeline projects, Turkish restaurant chains operating in Greece, 50 percent of household white goods in Greece being Turkish brand and important bank of Greece operating in Turkey were current developments that were unimaginable 10 years ago and said that "all these developments are the result of the hands extended by Avramopoulos and Erdogan to one another during the earthquake period".

Congratulating the investors for the cooperation, Bagis stated that "It is very important that this investment has been made in such a period of economic crisis where the whole world is confronted with distress. I think that ones who seize the opportunities in such periods will be the ones who will benefit from it. The message that will be given to the world via Turkish-Greek cooperation is also a significant one".

Indicating that they expect Greece to continue the support it has given so far for Turkey's EU membership, Bagis said that "EU is a project which will unite not only Turkish society but also world". Bagis stated that "Islamic world of one and a half billion is watching Turkey's EU membership process. The message EU will give to Turkey is a message it will give to the whole Islamic world".

Expressing that they have introduced silent reforms in EU membership process, Bagis stated that work was to be initiated to allow necessary constitutional amendments to be made after April, which would open the way for Turkey and contribute to the democracy.