EGEMEN BAGIS EVALUATED THE EXPECTATIONS FOR 2012

Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis evaluated the developments recorded in 2011 with regard to Turkey’s EU accession negotiations and the expectations for 2012.

In his statement to Anadolu News Agency Bagis said that 2011 had been a tough year regarding accession negotiations but since the presidential elections would be hold in France and EU Presidency would be hold by Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus, 2012 would be a tougher one. He also wished Turkish citizens a happy new year.

Egemen Bagis also said: “2012 will be a recovery year for EU but the recovery will come with pain. In this process, we must support each other, produce more and work more. We could overcome the difficulties but we should make these difficulties a path leading us to being stronger. I am of the opinion that we should focus on producing and working hard through considering the differences in our country as richness and accepting each other as we are instead of trying to change the other. I hope that 2012 will be a year of health, happiness and success for everyone.”

Bagis answered many questions from negotiation process to visa exemption, from PKK terrorist organization to Roj TV.

Question: Could you please assess year 2011 with regard to EU membership negotiation process?

Answer: We need to separate negotiation process from reform process. Considering negotiation process, unfortunately we could not make any progress with regard to opening a chapter in 2011 due to political obstacles, but as for the reform process, despite the fact that it was an election year, remarkable steps were taken in 2011 particularly in Obligations Law, Turkish Law of Commerce and also in many fields affecting our daily life from environment, agriculture, food safety, baby food to toys. However, I think that the most important reform of 2011 is general elections to enable the formulation of the infrastructure of Constitution.  The fact that 87 % of the citizens voted, 95 % of the votes were reflected to the Parliament and all the political parties in Parliament established a reconciliation committee with equal number of members from each party was may be the most remarkable work for improving democracy and transparency in Turkey.

Now the said committee is in full swing as a result of the efforts of the Speaker of the Parliament. I hope that we will experience a significant period leading to a civil and transparent constitution embracing all the citizens equally. If we succeed, we will get rid of the terrorism trouble. I hope that having a constitution at EU standards will affect other related fields, as well.

Of course 2011 was not an easy year but we estimate that 2012 will be a tougher one, because France will hold elections in May 2012. We all witness together that the French President tries to abuse Turkey’s candidate status and negotiation process through distorting the historical truths.

Immediately after the mentioned elections at the beginning of July EU Presidency will be hold by Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus. Unfortunately we will encounter a state-level EU Presidency to be executed by a semi-state. As you know, the island of Cyprus became an EU member but it was announced that the EU acquis was not valid and it was suspended for Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Indeed our desire is establishment of a common state in Cyprus where two sides are represented equally until July and to hold the presidency. But if not, we will see a presidency hold by a semi-state, which will cause some obstacles considering Turkey’s EU accession process. We need to be very patient and resolved against all of them. We are following “keep your firm stance without being rigid” policy in the framework of the instructions of our Prime Minister. We are taking remarkable steps with regard to the reforms. Significant reform laws are pending on the agenda of the Parliament. One of them is Ombudsman Law, i.e. government auditor law adopted in the framework of Constitutional Amendment. This law aims at the establishment of a mechanism to which the citizen, in the event of a dispute or a problem with the government, can apply free of charge, without any need to apply to the court, and solve the problem. Besides, establishment of “Equity and Anti-discrimination Board” is also on the agenda of the parliament. This will constitute an important mechanism that will avoid discriminating against different groups in our country due to their values, beliefs and preferences. Also human rights institution… Establishment of a totally autonomous, totally independent human rights institution which will protect sensitivity of Turkish citizens regarding human rights is very important.

Of course this is just the beginning.

- Presidency of Denmark –

Question: Is it likely that a new negotiation chapter will be opened under EU Presidency of Denmark?

Answer: They are welcomed if they open a chapter under our conditions. However, if they intent to open a chapter in order to exploit us in the crisis environment of the EU, opening a chapter will not provide any benefit to us. In other words, our aim is not opening a chapter but making reforms. There is no reason for Turkey not to open Competition Chapter. There is no reason for Turkey not to open Education and Culture Chapter. However, if for the Competition chapter, while a commission official asks for abolishment of incentives in Free Trade Zones of Turkey, French Government grants more incentives to the milk farmers in France, I have to object it. Or if opening a quite reasonable chapter such as Education and Culture is hindered by Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus arbitrarily and 26 countries do not involved, I must stress that there are some mistakes.

While 70 % of the energy resources needed by EU are in Turkey, if the Energy chapter is not opened due to Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus and the 26 countries do not react this, then it is a problem that should be handled by EU. Not opening these chapters is the problem of EU rather than Turkey. Because need of Turkey to EU is in a different trend than the need of EU to Turkey. Turkey managed to invest in infrastructure much more than many EU countries without being a member of EU. It also made more saving and had more successful economic indicators. Turkey grew by 8.9 percent in 2010, and for the time being averagely 10 percent in 2011. Our growth rate is 6-7 fold of EU average. OECD figures tell us that Turkey will remain to be the fastest growing economy of Europe till 2020. OECD also says that Turkey will be the second largest economy after Germany in 2050. If Germany intents to pay the debts of the European countries facing serious financial crisis, we may even be the strongest one. While Turkey is going forward with such a potential, the obstacles put forward to Turkey and abuse of some politicians in some countries because of his/her own efforts toward election will damage not us but Europe, the interests of European people.

2012 may be a hard one for these reasons but will prepare a different platform for the coming period. I believe that Turkey will be the shining star of Europe after 2013, because in 2013 elections in France and EU presidency of Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus will have been over, elections in Germany will have been shaped, a new government in US will have a different approach for the world and we, in Turkey, will be at a quite important point. I think that, towards 2014 presidential elections, we may go through some important processes.

-Visa exemption-

Question: What kind of a development we might expect for 2012 with regard to visa exemption?

Answer: At the first level we see that some steps have been taken in order to facilitate the visa process. As European commission announced, member countries will not seek different documents from now on, instead, a uniform document demand list have been constituted. Common visa offices might be opened in Turkey, one in Black Sea region and one in Mediterranean Sea Region. Instead of short-stay visas, multiple entry visas for longer stays will be granted to our citizens and the fee for visas will be decreased and some authorizations will be made for solving the problems that our citizens confront with in visa process.   For instance, Germany has opened a tender and we are closely monitoring this process. US citizens started to execute this through some private contractor firms, although they are not a EU member. On the other hand, final target of Turkey is elimination of visa procedure applied to Turkey by EU member countries. We will be insistent on this issue. However, it is not enough to be right, one need to be strong. Economic strength of Turkey is strengthening its hand regarding these issues.”

Question: Claims about the support of European countries to terrorist organization is always put on the agenda, what can you say about this for the time being?

Answer: The attitude of many EU member countries can be summarized with the proverb “Let the sleeping dogs lie”. Unfortunately, there are many EU countries which are afraid of any possible uneasiness in the event of a conflict between Turkish and Kurdish people living on their lands, if they involved much in the terrorist incidents in Turkey.  But I believe that in mid-January 2012 Danish jurisdiction will take the right decision and close Roj TV.

Besides, we know that the supporters of terrorist organization gather money by force, by threating and by blackmailing. We expect that the operations against these acts will be increased. Likewise, we inform our European allies about the fact that PKK is not just a terrorist organization but also a drug and rent cartel. Even the largest drug network of Europe is under PKK. Yes, it is true that PKK kills our soldiers, people, teachers, innocent children with bullets but they also poison Europe’s young population with drugs.  It is time that our European allies prevented this.

As was the case in 2011, 2010 and 2009, we will keep telling our European allies in 2012 that  PKK is also a trouble for them and the security of  Berlin, Paris and Amsterdam starts at  Şırnak, Batman and Diyarbakır. While doing this, we will broaden the democratic field in our country. We will enable our citizens to fully enjoy constitutional rights.

Question: We lost much due to terrorist organization particularly in the last few months. What has changed in this process and has any positive output been obtained?

Answer: A closer dialogue and cooperation among government institutions is in place than ever before. Some obstacles in front of communication have been overcome and all the government institutions are working together. After the Prime Minister emphasized that the most important expectation of the political will is full solidarity for the interests of the country, the institutions acted diligently. I hope greater achievements will come as a result of this.

Question: There are some criticisms about KCK operations, what would you like to say about it?

Answer: Every country ensures its security with its own mechanisms. If, in Germany for example, a group of people say “we have established an alternative state", German government will definitely react- or if, for example in the Netherlands or in France, some people say that "We decided to collect our own taxes, set our own rules, we have established an alternative state in here”, do you think that the relevant country, no matter it is the Netherlands, France, UK or Belgium, will not react? State understanding of each country is based on maintaining the existing order. In this framework, Turkey will fulfil all its responsibilities.

Separation of powers is in place in Turkey. Legislation, execution and judgement serve different purposes in different duty fields. But their common ground is to protect national unity and solidarity. In this framework, each institution will fulfil its liabilities. I do not claim that each person taken into custody in the scope of KCK operations is guilty. One is considered innocent until proven guilty. However, since some prosecutors have submitted convincing documents, findings and proofs, these operations are made and some people are taken into custody.  I believe the right thing to do is to follow them and to let the judgement to conclude this process as soon as possible.

-Armenian claims-

Question: After Armenian claims have been adopted in French Parliament, Turkey announced some decisions for sanction. What kind of new measures are thought to be taken in the event that France keeps this attitude?

Answer: If you like, let us leave this to imagination of French administrators at this level. May they concern about what the sanction of Turkey will be at the second level.

Question: Is there a possibility that similar draft laws will be put on the agenda in other European countries?

Answer: Not likely, because European colleagues also say that this draft law is not reasonable. It has nothing to do with historical truths. This is a draft law aiming at avoiding discussion about the history. In fact, this draft law is against all the values of French revolution, the philosophy for foundation of French Republic, but more remarkably against the EU acquis, institutions, rules and functioning manner.  This draft law is totally limiting the freedom of expression and tries to hinder revealing of a new document or finding about the incidents in 1915.

-Term of Office of the President –

Question: What will be the term of office of the President?

Answer: My personal comment is that the President was elected for 7 years, as the former ones. As a parliamentarian, while I was voting for Mr. Abdullah Gül in presidential elections, I voted for a 7-year term of office. It is his natural right to be in office for 7 years. He was elected in 2007 and his term of office ends in 2014. Then, as per the amended article of the constitution, the president will be elected by the people, not by the parliament. Term of office of the president elected by the people is 5 years as per constitution, not 7. At the end of 5-year term he can be a candidate again, if he like.

I can more or less guess the President that our nation wants. However, what is important is to give the opportunity to the President and the Prime Minister to serve in best manner in their duty field for the sake of unity and solidarity and development of the nation. Our President will be on duty until June 2014 and the Prime Minister until June 2015, but the required action will be taken in case of any different developments in the meanwhile.

-Jokes and criticisms-

Question: How was 2011 as a husband and father, what do you expect from 2012?

Answer: Unfortunately, I could not take time for my family in 2011. I feel guilty about my children. I even remember me telling my children to buy a president to their mother for father’s day. Because, unfortunately my wife fulfil the responsibilities of both a mother and a father, but I hope that I can spare more time to my family. I am very happy that I have a very considerate wife and two children. They are, in fact, aware this is a requirement for the interests of the country and they always support me. Thus, I appreciate my family.

Question: You have been on the agenda recently particularly for your jokes. Many comments have been made on Twitter about it, how do you feel about this?

Answer: In fact, the “Leonardo joke” I made was very important in a way that the people were informed about 43 thousand people in Turkey could receive training from Europe free of charge in the framework of Leonardo da Vinci program. They criticized me a little, but many people clicked on the web site of Turkish National Agency and downloaded the application forms.  Thanks to this joke, we contributed that many people had a vision. There is no harm in joking. As long as a joke can make the people smile and forget about their problems, may they criticise me.

Question: You are in the parliament for three terms and you can not be nominated as per the internal statute again, what are your future targets?

Answer: There is a proverb in English: “If you want to hear God laugh, make a plan". I became a politician upon the invitation of our Prime Minister, which I did not plan.  I am sure that I will have some different opportunities in the forthcoming period. The important thing is that our nation elected us to be on duty until June 2015. It is a great honour to be a representative of the nation. Let us work in due manner, then in 2015 we will make our future plans.

Question: What is your message for 2012?

Answer: 2012 will be a recovery year for EU but the recovery will come with pain. In this process, we must support each other, produce more and work more. We could overcome the difficulties but we should make these difficulties a path leading us to being stronger. I am of the opinion that we should focus on producing and working hard through considering the differences in our country as richness and accepting each other as we are instead of trying to change the other. I hope that 2012 will be a year of health, happiness and success for everyone.

Source: AA