"TURKEY ASSUMES A CRITICAL ROLE IN THE RESOLUTION OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS"

Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis stated that Turkey assumed a critical role in the resolution of all environmental problems, mainly those of continental Europe.

Bagis attended Climate Change Summit which was held ahead of 64th UN General Assembly high level meetings. Bagis attended Private Sector and Civil Society Forum on behalf of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and delivered a speech there.

In his speech Bagis indicated that climate change was a common problem like terrorism and said:

"nNone of us is safe until all of us are safe. One has to share the burden and be reasonable in allocating the costs when taking measures against the problems caused by the climate change and when overcoming those problems. Turkey which is conducting membership negotiations with the EU is a signatory to Kyoto Protocol. We developed a 1500 page long Strategy Paper in order for the Environment Chapter to be opened during the membership negotiations. Turkey has an important role in the resolution of global environmental problems, mainly those of our continent Europe, both in terms of environmental problems and climate change.

Egemen Bagis is reported to have conducted brief talks with the prime ministers and foreign ministers of various EU countries during the climate change summit in the UN. Bagis also met senior executives of many energy firms during the summit meetings and informed them about the contributions of Turkey in the field of energy security and the energy pipelines projects led or participated by Turkey.

Bagis is also reported to continue efforts to further Turkey's accession process with the EU parties during the UN meetings.Source: AA