BAGIS RECEIVES EU OMBUDSMAN DIAMANDOUROS

Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis received EU Ombudsman Nikiforos Diamandouros and Turkey’s first Ombudsman Nihat Omeroglu at the Ministry for EU Affairs.

Bagis spoke about the efforts of Diamandouros which had been undertaken to establish an Ombudsman in Turkey.

Indicating that the Ombudsman Office was a very important step for EU reforms and it was a tradition in Turkish culture, Bagis said “Great efforts were exerted, great difficulties were faced. Moreover, vetos were exerted but finally Turkey is the winner”.

Reminding that Diamandouros would participate the International Ombudsman Symposium that will be held in Ankara, Minister Bagis said “He is not a foreigner for us, he is our neighbour. He comes from a country knowing the Turkish culture very well and now he is the European Ombudsman. He is responsible for 28 countries and gave close attention to Turkey”. Bagis also thanked Diamandouras for his interests towards Turkey.