"TURKEY'S ACCESSION TO THE EU IS THE FINAL DESTINATION OF OUR CONTEMPORARY CIVILIZATION JOURNEY"

Egemen Bagis, Minister for EU Affairs and the Chief Negotiator stated in the message he released due to the fourth year of the accession negotiations with EU: "Turkey's accession into EU is the destination point of our contemporary civilization journey.

Stating that they were carrying out the accession negotiations with the same determination today, as it had been four years ago, Bagis said that the government was realizing what had remained unfulfilled and thus, it was rapidly progressing in EU issues.

Bagis stated that the efforts were for the welfare, security, stability and wealth of Turkey and Turkey's full membership would be achieved as a historic necessity and said "We are excited about that."

Stating that the government's greatest success was experiencing that excitement and implementing the EU reforms with the support of the nation, Bagis said:

"We are aware during each step we take that Turkey and the Islam World with 1.5 million population is behind us. The goal of Turkey-EU negotiations is full membership. When Turkey's determination was notices, some attempts were made to hinder or derail the process. These are not something new. Even though some narrow-minded politicians of Europe try to block our negotiation process, we will continue it. There are conscientious people in Europe who respect the rights and the law. EU accession is self-confidence of Turkey, we are confident in Turkey, we are confident in our nation and our democracy. The European states should also have the same self-confidence."

Stating that AK Party was struggling against the unlawful organizations and all kinds of unlawfulness, and has elevated Turkey to the level of contemporary democracies, Bagis said Turkish economy was among the ones which were least affected by the global crisis and Turkey was one of the countries guiding global economy and the future in G-20.

Bagis said "our aim is to ensure that our each citizen achieves the living standards of the EU," and stated that the National Unity Project guaranteed the safety and welfare of every citizen regardless of ethnic origin and that project was a "peace project expanding from Turkey to the region."

Emphasising that Turkey had come to the foreground in the Middle East, the Caucasus, the Balkans and other regions of the world as a factor of peace and stability, Bagis said:

Turkey is the voice of the common conscience of the humanity. Wherever there is a bleeding wound, wherever there is any conflict or war, Turkey is among the first countries asked for help to cure that wound, to stop the conflict."

Pointing that the 3rd Ordinary Congress of AK Party had been held on a very significant day, Bagis said the congress was "the great gathering of Turkey."

Bagis in his message thanked everyone who has supported Turkey on the path of EU and said he sincerely believed that Turkey would be a member of the EU.

Source: AA