ID :
165585
Thu, 03/03/2011 - 11:57
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/165585
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Turkey's Chief EU negotiator Bagis says Turkey's membership to EU cannot be prevented
LISBON (A.A) - 03.03.2011 - Turkey's state minister for the European Union (EU) and chief negotiator said on Thursday that EU member states that objected to Portugal's membership but could not prevent it, could neither hamper that of Turkey.
Egemen Bagis said the process Portugal, that joined the EU in 1985, was not so different from that of Turkey.
"Turkey will become an EU member sooner or later," Bagis told AA and TRT in Lisbon, Portugal, where he is holding formal talks.
Bagis criticized stance of French President Nicolas Sarkozy without uttering his name, and said the number of EU member states supporting Turkey was more than those objecting to it.
Turkey's path to the EU was long, and those, who were trying to hamper Turkey and urge it to give up EU membership bid, could not be successful, Bagis said.
Bagis said Turkey would stand firm on its feet and continue to explain the advantages of its membership to the EU and tell the union how a key country it was to solve EU's problems.
"Sooner or later, the Europeans will understand it, but we also attach importance to support of countries like Portugal that approach positively towards our membership," he said.
Bagis said Turkish government wanted opposition parties to support itself on the road to EU membership, and defined the visit of opposition leader to EU capitals as a positive signal.
The minister expressed his hope that Turkey would hold a democratic and transparent election, and opposition and government would give hand-in-hand and pass reforms after the general elections due in June.
Turkey became an EU candidate country in December 1999. The union launched accession talks with Turkey on October 3, 2005. The EU has so far opened 13 of the 35 chapter headings to negotiations with Turkey.
Egemen Bagis said the process Portugal, that joined the EU in 1985, was not so different from that of Turkey.
"Turkey will become an EU member sooner or later," Bagis told AA and TRT in Lisbon, Portugal, where he is holding formal talks.
Bagis criticized stance of French President Nicolas Sarkozy without uttering his name, and said the number of EU member states supporting Turkey was more than those objecting to it.
Turkey's path to the EU was long, and those, who were trying to hamper Turkey and urge it to give up EU membership bid, could not be successful, Bagis said.
Bagis said Turkey would stand firm on its feet and continue to explain the advantages of its membership to the EU and tell the union how a key country it was to solve EU's problems.
"Sooner or later, the Europeans will understand it, but we also attach importance to support of countries like Portugal that approach positively towards our membership," he said.
Bagis said Turkish government wanted opposition parties to support itself on the road to EU membership, and defined the visit of opposition leader to EU capitals as a positive signal.
The minister expressed his hope that Turkey would hold a democratic and transparent election, and opposition and government would give hand-in-hand and pass reforms after the general elections due in June.
Turkey became an EU candidate country in December 1999. The union launched accession talks with Turkey on October 3, 2005. The EU has so far opened 13 of the 35 chapter headings to negotiations with Turkey.
