BAGIS: "FOR TURKEY TO BE AN EXCELLENT BRIDGE, BOTH LEGS OF THE BRIDGE SHOULD BE STRONG"

In his speech at the panel: "Turkey-EU Relations After the Progress Report" organized by TEPAV in TOBB University of Economics and Technology, Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis stated that as confirmed by various parties, the Report in general was more moderate and positive in comparison with the previous Reports.

Bagis added: "This does not mean that we accept all the comments in the Report. Some of them are inappropriate or ill-timed". Bagis also said that they would ask the opinions of all the public institutions and organisations regarding the Report. He recalled that in the political criteria part, the Report underlined the importance of the publication of the National Programme.

Bagis stated that Turkey's peaceful and conciliatory activities all over the world weren't in contradiction with the foreign policies of the EU; on the contrary, the fact that they supported the policies was laid down in the Report. Bagis said "For Turkey to be an excellent bridge, both legs of the bridge should be strong" and that the Report approved Turkey's steps in this respect.

Pointing out the importance of non-governmental organizations' taking part in decision-making mechanisms, Bagis said that the next meeting of Reform Monitoring Group would be held in Konya on the 11th of November. Stating that he attached great importance to democratic initiative project, Bagis continued his speech as follows:

"Democratic initiative project isn't a process relating to a specific section and their democratic rights. This initiative has been started in order to improve the individual rights in Turkey." Stating that no specific section was targeted in the democratic initiative process, Bagis said "It is everyone's right to live in a peaceful country and give way to our pain resulting from terror. However we can't turn a blind eye to others while dealing with the problems of one section."

Bagis said that the taboos were gradually removed, the issues that were veiled could now be freely discussed and that the problems were encountered instead of being swept under the carpet.

Indicating that the Report emphasized the Ergenekon trial and regarded it as "an opportunity for Turkey", Bagis said he hoped this trial to be finished as soon as possible to separate the guilty and the innocent.

Mentioning the constitutional reform, Egemen Bagis said that the opponent and the government needed to collaborate on this issue.

Stating that one of the issues in the Progress Report on which they didn't agree was about Cyprus, Bagis summarized the accession process.

Source: AA