TURKEY AND THE EU: OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLANGES IN THE ACCESSION PROCESS

Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Mr. Egemen Bagis made a speech on Turkey's EU accession process at the conference titled "Turkey and The EU: Opportunities and Challenges in the Accession Process" organized by the Economic Development Foundation (İKV) with the collaboration of the University Association for Contemporary European Studies (UACES) and the Turkish University Association for European Studies (TUNAECS) at Kayisdagi Campus of Yeditepe University.

Pointing at the significance of people building relationships with each other, Bagis said that the barrier of prejudices would disappear when Europeans got to know the Turkish people and the Turkish people got to know Europeans.

Referring to the economic growth Turkey has been experiencing recently, Bagis also indicated that Turkey was an important country for the EU with its young and dynamic population.

Bagis also stated that Turkey would become more energetic for the reforms along with the constitutional amendments.

Bagis reminded the Israel's raid on an aid convoy bound for Gaza and said:

"Tell me a country that wouldn't react when its nationals are killed in this way. Our nationals were killed on the international waters and this is the violation of international law as a whole. And Israel has not apologized yet. Therefore, we are taking strict measures against Israel."

Bagis stated that they are angry at Israeli government, not Israeli people and Judaists.

Source: AA