12th ANNIVERSARY OF AK PARTY

Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis released a written statement on the occasion of 12th anniversary of the establishment of AK Party.

In his statement, Egemen Bagis indicated the following:

“Today Turkey’s historical and cultural heritage covers an area much larger than 780.000 square kilometers.

In many countries in the world today in which cruelty reigns, the fact that the demonstrators display our Prime Minister’s picture along with the Turkish flag is sufficiently explanatory in itself. If Turkey today represents recovery and a dignified stance, it is only because of the achievements of the past 12 years. We should give the utmost importance to the protection of these values.

Those who accuse a government which aims to fight against tutelage of building a new tutelage today should take care not to offend the conscience of our people.

The value of today’s environment of freedom, strengthening of democracy and our stability should be well appreciated.

No one can accuse AK Party of changing its appearance. What was the past of our government and our party is also its future. Our motto is “Be honest, as it was commanded”.

Those who labeled us differently than we really are were always embarrassed in the end.

Those who labeled us to be what we are not were eventually disappointed.

Those who hoped that we would become impertinent and tread on air waited in vain.

The mind-readers, so-called fortune-tellers and those who told us what the future would bring were always wrong. I always say that we set out on this path to serve the nation, not to be its master.

We are the nation itself.

We are Turkey with all its colors; together, we are Turkey.

AK Party is the party of the nation and of Turkey, not of specific groups or specific factions; it is a party of the world.

The path of AK Party is that of democracy, the rule of law and modernity; of change, justice and development.

AK Party is the sole address of change, transformation, innovation and reformation in Turkish politics.

AK Party is a very large community, a political movement, which set out under the leadership of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, as a challenge to longstanding fractional politics, ideological reckoning and disputes.

We, who are committed to the same cause, set out under the leadership of a Party Chairman who is dedicated to the country and the nation.

Our ideals brought us together, our goals brought us together, and our dedication to our nation and country brought us together.

We have come together to serve the nation, to carry out work and to solve problems.

We never taken a step back even when faced with threats, conspiracies, provocations and all kinds of dark scenarios.

We never bowed to those who intend to betray the trust of the nation, to illegal constructs, or structures, and to dark scenarios.

With us, this nation started to believe that Turkey could change and transform; it gained self-confidence and started to look to the future with hope.

Today, we, as the nation, are more hopeful than ever.

Today, we all see that the horizon of the country is clearer and brighter.

Today, we believe that there is no problem which cannot be solved and that we can overcome all kinds of problems through solidarity, unity and brotherhood.

This picture is the result of the work of AK Party; this picture is the result of the work of the staff of AK Party that has fully dedicated itself.

Although it has been 12 years since its establishment, AK Party has proven its claim that it is a party for Turkey; it has embraced the entire 780.000 square kilometers and the 76 million people of our country.

Furthermore, AK Party is also a party which has a say in world issues and a claim that it can contribute to solving these issues. Today, the success and policies of AK Party go beyond the borders of Turkey. The political philosophy of and call for justice by AK Party has become a new hope for humanity.

Now, the world talks about Turkey, about its power, its prestige and efforts for peace.

Thanks to AK Party government, Turkey sets the agenda, rather than having its agenda set for it.

Thanks to the AK Party government, Turkey is followed by others instead of following others and is no longer a spectator but a country that points the way.

We maintain our sincerity and good will regarding full membership to the EU.

There is no doubt that AK Party government is the one of  the governments of Republic of Turkey which has demonstrated the most determined stance, has taken the most concrete steps and has made the greatest advances on the path of full membership to the EU.

Therefore, unfounded claims and criticisms, which have instead taken the place of acclaim for these favorable steps taken in the interest of Turkey, have been sifted through by our nations’ understanding of justice and fairness and will continue to be as such.

We are obliged to continue this journey for democracy and justice to which we have committed ourselves, with the support of all sections of the society and we are determined on this matter. It is our responsibility to finish what we have started.

We are obliged to continue on our way, albeit erring on the side of caution.  This is why we always emphasize unity and solidarity.

Turkey should not have a democracy which is ‘reset’ every ten years. The phrase ‘restart once again from the very beginning’ should not be used with the word ‘democracy’ in the same sentence. As a matter of fact, it is a very critical threshold for our country and our democracy that the coup attempts have been tried by the courts for the first time.

Our country suffered deeply from the illegal interventions in the past; we cannot allow new ones to be planned.

Those who “balanced” democracy stole not only our democracy, but also the future of the country.

Tutelage cannot be the fate of this country.

Anti-democratic interventions cannot be the fate of Turkey.

Status quo cannot succeed when faced with our will for reform and change.

The Turkish nation desires much more democracy, freedom and justice.

We have made significant progress in the last 12 years; we will continue on our way with the same determination.

Now in Turkey, the agenda is set only by the will of nation.

Those who attempt to disturb the environment of peace with far-fetched agendas that are not in the interest of our country will lose both at elections and in the heart of the nation.  They should be well aware of this.”