EGEMEN BAGIS – AGENDA

Our intensive contacts continued in the previous month, under the party principle “Don’t stop; keep on going” in the EU Process. French President Mr. Nicolas Sarkozy’s visit to Turkey, our Prime Minister’s visit to Germany, on the occasion of Turkey’s becoming a partner country of CeBIT 2011 Expo, and our fruitful contacts in Portugal were significant issues in this respect.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy visited Turkey 30 years later and stayed for five hours in our country. However, unfortunately, he wasn’t able to initiate a new process that would excite the people of both countries in terms of Turkey’s EU process and Turkish-French relations. Still, we believe that Mr. Sarkozy’s visit has important contributions; since it showed to Sarkozy how close the distance between Turkey and Europe is; enabling a one-day visit.

After we hosted Sarkozy, our Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan went to Germany and fulfilled his longing with thousands of our citizens living there. The excitement and enthusiasm of about 15 thousand Turkish citizens in Düsseldorf who met our Prime Minister proved that Turkey was in fact a natural EU Member State. Moreover, it was also a significant event that Germany and Turkey jointly inaugurated the International CeBIT Trade Fair, to which Turkey has been a “partner country”.

We are pleased to see that Portugal, which had also experienced the same resistances, understands Turkey and supports her against those resistances. We had the opportunity to express this fact to our Portuguese friends in our Lisbon visit. One of the significant consequences of this support is the visa liberation. I was honoured to give the good news that the Agreement regarding the removal of visas would enter into force as from 31 March during our visit.

I would like to indicate once more that, those resisting Turkey’s accession will not be successful, just as they were not successful in resisting Portugal, the previous president of which has currently become the President of EU Commission.

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan attended “Düsseldorf Meeting” held in Düsseldorf in Germany.

Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis hosted the Closing Ceremony of Istanbul, European Capital of Culture 2010 and said “Europe wouldn’t be complete without Istanbul.”

66th Meeting of Turkey-EU Joint Parliamentary Commission was held in Hatay with the participation of Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis, Minister of Justice Sadullah Ergin, Minister of State Cevdet Yılmaz and Turkey-EU Joint Parliamentary Commission Co-Presidents Lutfi Elvan and Helena Flautre.

Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis said: “Military coups, attacks targeting our democracy, violations of human rights and execution of youngsters have become the barriers which prevented Turkey from reaching EU standards. Thank God, we are in a very different period in Turkey today.”

Answering the questions of journalists at his office in Secretariat General for EU Affairs, Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis touched upon the words of the leader of Republican People’s Party (CHP) Kemal Kılıcdaroglu about Ergenekon like “Where is this organization? I will become a member.”

Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis met with Northern Cyprus Prime Minister Irsen Kucuk, and indicated that mostly the people of the two countries felt sorry for the incidents between Turkey and Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and added “Blood is thicker than water”.

2011 Foundation Reward was given to Emine Erdogan, the spouse of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, by Jean Paul Carteron, the Chairman of Crans Montana Forum.

Participating as a guest speaker in a TV program, “Moderator” on Kanal 24, Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator, Egemen Bagis replied questions on the recent developments about TRNC.