EGEMEN BAGIS: ‘THE EU MUST ACCEPT TURKEY’
EuroNews
Feb 10 2012
Joining the European Union remains a top priority for Turkey despite
the economic crisis and controversy over comments made on the Armenian
genocide. They’re also a key player in trying to resolve the Syrian
crisis.
Gulsum Alan, euronews:
“We are joined by Turkish EU affairs minister. Egemen BagıÅ~_,
welcome to Euronews.
“In Brussels, you spoke with the Turkey rapporteur, and with the
President of the European Parliament, but with the EU in economic
crisis and the eurozone in a critical situation. Why does Turkey
still want to be part of the European Union?”
Egemen BagıÅ~_ EU affairs minister:
“Turkey’s position is not driven by economic interests, we never saw
the EU in this way. For us, Europe is the most extensive project for
peace in all of human history. When we look at the member countries
of the European Union, we find that peoples who have waged war for
centuries now live in peace within the EU.
“For this peaceful project to become more worldwide Turkey should
be integrated into it. Due to its geographical location, Turkey
serves as a bridge between countries, and can give this project an
international dimension.
“Despite the economic difficulties experienced by the EU, we must not
forget that the EU still has the highest wealth per capita. Therefore
the EU model is one of the best to apply when thinking of our own
hopes for the future.”
Gulsum Alan, euronews:
“Turkey plays an important role in the region. Isn’t it going to turn
towards other horizons?”
Egemen BagıÅ~_ EU affairs minister:
“As always, Turkey continues to be a bridge between East and West,
between Islam and Christianity. In terms of energy resources it also
serves as a bridge and manages supply and demand. This bridge, which
extends from north to south, and east to west gets stronger every day.
This shouldn’t be a source of disagreement.”
Gulsum Alan, euronews:
“How does Turkey intend to help the EU out of economic crisis?”
Egemen BagıÅ~_ EU affairs minister:
“As Turkey has also gone through very difficult times, we can say that
the EU will emerge from this crisis even more stable and fortified.
Not so long ago, there was a period of 12-13 years in which Turkey
saw interest rates raise by 8000 percent in a single night.
“The first thing that the EU should do is take away the visa that
applies to Turkish citizens. It’s unfair, illogical, and illegitimate.
Turks should be able to travel freely in EU member countries.
“This would mean more tourists and therefore more money spent. They’ll
do business. Turkish citizens now have the opportunity to travel
without visas in 65 countries. We are part of the customs union, 50
percent of our foreign trade is with the EU, 60 percent of tourists
visiting Turkey come from the EU. Despite all this, it is unfortunate
that we can not we travel freely in EU countries.
“The world of business has grown significantly. Turkey is currently
the sixth largest economy in Europe. Figures from the OECD predict
that by 2050 Turkey will be the second largest economy, and until 2020
Turkey will continue to have the strongest economic growth in Europe.
“To build walls and close doors to such potential does not make sense.
We must stop thinking that the Turks will emigrate to Europe, because
in recent years we’ve seen that more Europeans are moving to Turkey
than vice versa.”
Gulsum Alan, euronews:
“Switzerland has opened an investigation into what you said about
the law on the denial of genocide, and France is making similar moves.
Does the fact that it could spread throughout the EU worry you?”
Egemen BagıÅ~_ EU affairs minister:
“Among the most important principles of the EU is free speech. The
fact that some EU members have to pass a series of laws that restrict
freedom of speech is illogical, this is contrary to the principles
of the EU constitution that the members have adopted.
“I said in Zurich, I repeat here, and I will repeat elsewhere, that
with our information, according to our records and our sources,
it makes no sense… it’s illogical to call the 1915 events a genocide.
“We challenge Armenia and other countries to open their archives. That
we create an independent commission in which we find Armenian
historians, Russian, Turkish, European and American historians.
“That all these countries open their archives so that we can analyse
what really happened in 1915. Thereafter we can assess the situation.
This is an execution without trial. Calling the 1915 events a genocide
based solely on information we have right now, comes from a lobby
that nurtures malicious hatred. We refuse to enter into their games.”
Gulsum Alan, euronews:
“Could this be spread throughout the EU?”
Egemen BagıÅ~_ EU affairs minister:
“This is against the principles of the EU. For this to be possible,
all 27 EU members should take a unanimous decision. It’s unlikely
that all 27 EU countries decide this at the same time.”
Gulsum Alan, euronews:
“The AK party who are in power, seem tired of making reforms. Why
are they not as dynamic as they once were?”
Egemen BagıÅ~_ EU affairs minister:
“The AK party is not tired of making reforms. The AK party is
historically the government which has made â~@~Kâ~@~Kthe most
reforms. Just look what we have done recently, for the first time in
88 years the celebration of Mass in the Orthodox Monastery of Sumela
became possible.
“After 112 years our Armenian citizens began celebrating Mass in
their Akdamar, recently in Turkey relations between civilians and
the military and the Supreme Military Council were reformed. All this
shows how we are more than ever determined to pursue reforms”
Gulsum Alan, euronews:
“The EU has high expectations for the Turkey’s new constitution. What
do you plan to do?”
Egemen BagıÅ~_ EU affairs minister:
“We are creating a commission with an equal number of representatives
that reflects the four parties represented in parliament. Right now it
is this committee which is responsible for the new constitution. NGOs,
academics and journalists also support the work of the commission.
“We’ve also created a website so that citizens can make proposals.
Different religious groups also support this initiative. Once all
this information is collected the commission will prepare a civil
constitution which I hope will unite all citizens.
“A constitution that will be approved by all political parties,
a constitution that every citizen will agree with. This will enable
Turkey to advance in the process of EU accession.”
Gulsum Alan, euronews:
“In Syria, as the repression of civilians intensifies. What does
Turkey intend to do to stop these massacres?”
Egemen BagıÅ~_ EU affairs minister:
“Today at a press conference the President of the European Parliament
himself said that Turkey is the country that made â~@~Kâ~@~Kthe most
courageous statements on this issue. We would also like to see European
countries adopt a firmer stance.
“On one night alone 300 people were killed. The entire international
community must tell them to stop. The international community should
exert greater pressure on China and Russia who are permanent members
of the Security Council of the United Nations.
“Tens of thousands of people have already been welcomed into Turkey.
All our resources have been deployed… Concerning our plans for
the future, I’m not ready to share that on camera, I’ll save it for
diplomacy behind the scenes.”