FRIENDSHIP AND PEACE RALLY

Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis indicated that "2011 Friendship and Peace Rally" which has entered Turkey within the scope of 9 May Europe Day would depart to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and added "I hope this visit would contribute to the efforts aiming at establishing lasting peace and friendship in Cyprus."

In his message regarding the departure of the Rally to TRNC, Bagis said the Rally was supported by the Secretariat General for European Union Affairs as a civil society initiative within the framework of 9 May Europe Day activities. Minister Bagis added that the Rally had set off its journey from Germany and would conclude it in Jordan.

Pointing out that the Rally's longest route in Europe was Turkey, Bagis said the Rally entered Turkey from Northwestern Edirne province, visited Sultanahmet, Istanbul for two days and came to Ankara.

Reminding that he sent off the rally with a ceremony held on the 6th of May, Bagis stated that during the ceremony the competitors from various cities of Europe presented them with their goodwill wishes and with souvenirs from their cities.

Indicating that within the context of 9 May European Day those were very nice gifts from ur European friends who believe that Turkey was a natural part of the European Union, Bagis continued his speech as follows:

“Another meaningful gift from the rally racers was the surprise -which I had given a hint about on the 6th of May in Ankara- when we saw them preparing to go to the TRNC. Due to our Prime Minister’s foreign policy vision we now see that the unjust, unnecessary and unreasonable embargoes imposed on TRNC are being pierced through.

The European non-governmental organizations didn’t forget TRNC, which is isolated and forgotten by European Union institutions. The friendship and peace convoy, consisting of nearly 400 vehicles and 700 rally drivers from 12 European countries, is going to go to the TRNC and contribute to the solution processes.”

Bagis stressed that as the government they contributed not only to the infrastructure processes but also to all kinds of courageous projects and occasions. He stated that on the 9 May Europe Day, they were witnessing to such a big organization take place in TRNC and challenge the embargoes for the first time.

“I hope this Rally organization will bring permanent peace and friendship to the island as its name indicates” said Bagis.

He congratulated all of the contestants and in particular the committee president of the Peace and Friendship Rally, Wilfried Gher and Turkish team and their captain Nadir Serin for participating in this meaningful journey and thanked all of the authorities and institutions in Turkey and TRNC, in particular Prime Minister Erdoğan and Deputy Prime Minister Cemil Çiçek.

Source: AA