TRAP FOR TURKEY

Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis said, "Where else can interest lobby lay a trap other than Turkey? They will naturally try to build scenarios on Turkey because we prevented them from getting unearned income; we spoiled their dirty order and efforts. Naturally, they will try to create an environment in Taksim like the one experienced in Tahrir Square.”

Minister Bagis attended the "sahur", night time meal, in Siirt Teachers’ Lodge and expressed that Turkey made significant progress during AK Party rule. He continued his words as follows:

"When looking back on the past, the progress Turkey has made is noticed. Turkey became indebted with a rate of 65% at one time, but now this is only 4.6%. This being the case, where else can interest lobby lay a trap other than Turkey? They will naturally try to build scenarios on Turkey because we prevented them from getting unearned income; we spoiled their dirty order and efforts. Naturally, they will try to create an environment in Taksim like the one experienced in Tahrir Square. However, the will of our nation and its determination for democracy which was first demonstrated in Siirt, is also manifested in Kazlıcesme, Sincan, Kayseri, Erzurum and Samsun.

Noting that the State did not oppress only Muslims in the past but also its Armenian, Orthodox and Roma citizens, Minister Bagis said that they overcame these.

Stating that once there was an inhumane practice of using a lower coefficient to calculate the final score of the university admission and the students were exposed to discrimination by the State itself, Minister Bagis said, "In the past, the State acted as a guard controlling the dressing style of the students. This oppression was not only targeted at believing Muslims. They have prevented Armenian citizens from having religious services at their own place of worship for 112 years. They did not let them to the Armenian Holy Cross Church on the Akdamar Island. For 88 years, they have not let Orthodox citizens to have religious services at Soumela Monastery. For years, Roma citizens have been treated with contempt. They were called by names other than their own. However, now, Housing Development Administration of Turkey (TOKİ) builds housings for our Roma brothers.

Noting that once even the President of the Republic had been afraid to say "I am Kurd", however a state TV channel then broadcasted 24 hours in Kurdish, Minister Bagis said that Turkey was going through the most democratic and transparent period of its history.