BAGIS’ LONDON VISIT GETS COVERAGE EVEN IN SOUTH AFRICA

The Daily Maverick, one of the impartial broadcast corporations in South Africa, drew attention to the contacts that Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis held in London and to his messages for the EU process. 

It was emphasized in the article that Turkey, a long-time NATO member, increased its diplomatic influence alongside its economic prosperity, and it was stated that the talks on Turkish integration into Europe originally began in 1963, but the intractable dispute over the Cyprus issue blocked talks on several policy issues.

The article also made a reference to Turkey’s Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis’ statement in London: “We want to be in the EU, but the EU has to make a decision. The decision to start the negotiation process with Turkey was a unanimous decision, and only a unanimous decision can put an end to this process.”

Emphasizing the statement by Egemen Bagis regarding that the Greek Cypriots held the EU hostage, the article also wrote: “If there is one principle of the EU I would like to criticize it is the unanimity principle… One single member country, the Greek Cypriots, can block the opening of the energy chapter.”

Furthermore, the statement by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan: “the delay was unforgivable and the EU would lose Turkey if it was not granted membership by 2023” was recalled in the article.

It was also mentioned that enthusiasm among the Turkish public for EU membership was waning given the bloc’s (the EU) economic woes, particularly the sovereign debt crisis hitting some members of the currency union, but Bagis was confident any referendum would pass, saying that “If there was a vote today I could easily get a yes vote… on membership of the EU, but I’m not so sure about joining the euro zone.”

It was indicated in the article that Turkey had jumped to 16th largest economy in the world from 26th since AK Party came to power.

Source: Daily Maverick