All4114All wrote:WorldBulletin.net, Turkey
Oct 23 2010
Turkish minister says EU's need for Turkey increases day by day
"It is a shame that Turkish citizens still have to deal with visa
proceedings while citizens of countries which have not yet even
started accession talks, Bagis said
Saturday, 23 October 2010 11:39
Turkish State Minister & chief negotiator for the European Union talks
Egemen Bagis said, "Europe's need for Turkey increases day by day."
Speaking at a dinner hosted prior to the 7th Bogazici Conference on
Turkey-the European Union relations, Bagis said, "now, Turkey feels
itself more determined, more powerful and more courageous both
economically and politically in its European Union accession process
than ever. Turkey reached an 11 percent growth rate in the first half
of the year. Under the light of the difficulties faced by the European
Union, we have a new slogan: Turkey will save Europe."
"Eventually, Turkey will complete the accession negotiations. Europe's
need for Turkey increases day by day. We will become a full member of
the European Union," he said.
Bagis said, "another expectation of Turkish people is more cooperation
in fight against terrorism. Any country cannot fight against terror on
its own. We want concrete cooperation."
"It is a shame that Turkish citizens still have to deal with visa
proceedings while citizens of countries which have not yet even
started accession talks with the European Union, are able to travel to
the European-Union countries easily. We do not expect all 27 member
countries to put an end to visa proceedings in a day. But we need to
start to find a solution," he said.
Cyprus issue
Commenting on Cyprus issue, Bagis said that this issue was not a joke
any more, adding that some of the EU countries were hiding behind this
island.
Noting that Greek Cypriot leader rejected a recent invitation of UN
Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to hold a tripartite meeting with
Turkish Cypriot leader in New York, Bagis said that this was another
failed initiative, adding that this was another objection to
international community's initiative to end the division in the
island.
Bagis said that if British Airways and Air France were ready to fly to
Ercan Airport in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), then
Turkey was ready to open its ports to Greek Cypriot traffic.
He said that Greek Cypriot administration was preventing other members
of the EU to set commercial relations and to travel to TRNC.
Bagis noted that Turkey could not advance in chapter headings in its
EU membership negotiations because of the veto of Greek Cypriot
administration, adding that Turkey could not open energy chapter
heading again because of Greek Cypriot veto, however, there was
currently an energy crisis in Europe and Turkey was able to meet
nearly 70 percent energy demand of Europe.
It is now time to wake up for the EU, and the EU should start to ask
for its own interests, said Bagis.
Bagis also said that dark days were over in Turkey.
Recalling that rites were held in Sumela Monastery in Turkey's Black
Sea province of Trabzon a month ago and in historical Armenian church
in eastern province of Van a few weeks ago, Bagis said that Turkish
people near Black Sea and Lake Van hosted thousands of Christians and
displayed hospitality during their rites, adding that this was a good
indicator of the change in Turkey.
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The EU will come to understand that it requires Turkey and it's economic strength as the Eurozone struggles. This will then be a rolling effect for the TC to be recognised as it was the EU's mistake in the first place to recognise RoC.
How many Christians do you have in Turkey?What about Alevites rights.?
if you consider that EU is a stupid organization which can consider a churge ceremony in Soumela as sign of a democratic system in Turkey -you are just stupids.
You must understand that Europeans, including Greeks, became, by the years, much more clever than Ottomans, like Your "clever" foreign minister.
