"IN NO CASE CAN SECRET GANGS GOVERN THE STATE IN EU MEMBER STATES"

In the speech he made in the conference on "Treaty of Lisbon and EU Accession Process of Turkey" organised by Politics Club of Fatih University, Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis reminded that Treaty of Lisbon had been signed on 13 December 2007, however the ratification process had been suspended because of the referendum in Ireland.

Stating that Treaty of Lisbon was 90-95% similar with the constitutional treaty which had not been accepted by EU states, Bagis said that the difference between the two was regarding the concepts of common flag, common hymn and constitution.

Bagis, reminding that Turkey needed the approval of 27 countries in order to start negotiations on one Chapter, said that the decision making process of the EU would proceed more rapidly after the ratification of the Treaty of Lisbon.

Indicating that the National Assembly did not function because Turkey was going through an election process and many legal regulations could not be made, Bagis said that they intended to make many legal regulations starting with the Commercial Code by taking the support of the opposition parties after the election.

Stating that Turkey-EU integration was based on win-win principle, Bagis said that EU membership in Turkey had become a common denominator for people from all segments of the society and it was the greatest modernisation project after the declaration of republic.

Bagis said that acceptance of the Treaty of Lisbon by the peoples of Europe was important for the membership of Turkey and Turkey's efforts for EU membership continued increasingly.

Pointing that there was an energy crisis in Europe, Bagis said that Turkey was the key country in Nabucco Project which would meet the energy requirement of Europe. Bagis stated that negotiations between Turkey and EU on energy chapter had not started because of the objection of Cyprus and the solution of the energy problem of Europe was in the hands of Turkey.

Bagis answered the questions of the participants also and in response to the question "We are following the pending cases and the status quo in the state. What can Turkey hope from EU process?" he indicated that EU project has been implemented successfully in 27 countries.

Stating that in no case could secret gangs govern the state in EU member states, Bagis said that Spain had difficult times in the past, however it had a well developed democracy today.

In response to the question "do you believe that we can be a EU member State with this constitution?" Bagis said: "Turkey cannot be a member state with this constitution. After the election we will amend this constitution with the support of the opposition parties."

Bagis said, he believed that Turkey would have a modern constitution and the 2.5 years following the election in which there are no other elections would be used efficiently to make the necessary amendments.

Bagis also attended the consultative assembly meeting organised by AK Party Besiktas District Presidency in Etiler School of Tourism and Hotel Management. He made a speech there and said: "People will vote for the service in this election, not according to an ideological obsession. If the point at issue is Ataturkism, AK Party is the most Ataturkist party in Turkey."

Resource: AA