BAGIS MEETS LUXEMBOURG PRIME MINISTER JEAN-CLAUDE JUNCKER

Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis was received by Luxembourg's Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker within the framework of his contacts in Luxembourg.

Bagis also met Luxembourg Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Jean Asselborn, and in the joint press conference held after their meeting, reminded that Luxembourg was a very important country in Turkey's EU membership process since Turkey's accession negotiations were launched in this country on October 3, 2005, and he thanked Asselborn for his support to Turkey.

Asselborn also said that negotiations with Turkey had started with the signatures of all member states and with the target of full membership and Luxembourg was going to stay committed to this process.

Minister Bagis also met Laurent Mosar, the President of Luxembourg Chamber of Deputies , and members of the Committee on Foreign and European Affairs, Defence Cooperation and Immigration.

Egemen Bagis delivered a conference at the Pierre Werner Institute the same day on Turkey's EU membership negotiations. Upon the words of one participant that Turkey's membership caused concern for some Europeans, Bagis said, "It's no use being in fear of Turkey because it is a big country, you should overcome that fear."

Attending the dinner hosted by Foreign Minister Asselborn in his honor after the conference, Bagis proceeded to Brussels at night.

Source: AA