BAGIS IN VIENNA TURKEY'S EU MEMBERSHIP WILL INTRODUCE TOLERANCE

Paying an official visit to Vienna, Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis met with Michael Spindelegger, Vice-Chancellor and Federal Minister of European and International Affairs of Austria.

Issues such as Turkey's EU negotiation process, recent developments in the Middle East and North Africa, Balkan countries' integration with the EU, integration process of the Turkish people living in Austria were dealt with during the meeting.

Minister Bagis made a statement after the meeting and said, "The energy issue was also discussed during the meeting and I told the Minister that it was irrational not to bring the energy problem up for discussion until today."

Following the meeting, Minister Bagis met with the representatives of Turkish community at the HQs of Austria-Turkey Islamic Union which operates in Austria in association with Turkish Presidency of Religious Affairs. Addressing to the Turkish citizens living abroad, Minister Bagis said, "I accept you as the representatives of Turkey in overcoming the prejudices." And then he called on the Turkish community in Austria to talk about Turkey's negotiations process with the Austrian people and officials.

Speaking at a conference which was held by the Muslim Union of Europe with the participation of the leading figures of Muslim community in Austria, Bagis said that Turkey's EU membership might be an important message which shows that different civilizations can live in peace side by side in the EU. Minister Bagis said, "Turkey's EU membership will be an antidote against intolerance, anti-Islamism and extremism."

Source: AA