LATE PRESIDENT OZAL REMEMBERED

In his message he delivered on the occasion of the death anniversary of the Eighth President Turgut Ozal, Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis said, "Ozal went beyond the ordinary practice by ensuring revision of the traditional statist mentality in Turkey through his political approach which placed the individual in the centre".

In his message Bagis said, "Tomorrow is the death anniversary of the Eighth President Turgut Ozal, who is one of the architects of the change of mentality in Turkey and the prominent leaders of the Turkish democracy history. The late Ozal has been one of the most important leaders of Turkey's democratisation process with his principle that there are no creatures, institutions or doctrines more sacred than the human being. His belief in free enterprise has also led Turkish economy which was fettered for years to reborn. Ozal went beyond the ordinary practice by ensuring revision of the traditional statist mentality in Turkey through his political approach which placed the individual in the centre."

Reminding that Ozal applied for membership to the then named European Economic Community in 1987, Bagis noted that Ozal's efforts at contributing to the European Union membership process could never be forgotten.

Indicating that foreseeing the difficulties which would be encountered, Ozal likened this process to ‘a long and thin path', Bagis said, "We also continue to proceed with determination ‘on that long and thin path' under the leadership of our Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan who provided historic impetus to our European Union process.

Bagis ended his message saying "I once again remember the late Ozal with mercy, gratitude and profound respect on the anniversary of his death as a great statesman and a man of the people who lives in our hearts with his services."