Turkish Press
March 23 2008

AK Party Has Become A Party Known Globally, Bagis
Published: 3/23/2008

ISTANBUL – Egemen Bagis, deputy chairman of the ruling Justice and
Development (AK) Party, said Saturday that the AK Party has become a
party known globally.
AK Party has become a party followed closely globally, Bagis noted.

Speaking at a meeting on AK Party’s foreign policy, Bagis indicated
that "we began walking with a leader that many defined as not
qualified enough to become a village headman. He (Recep Tayyip
Erdogan) is not merely a leader in Turkey but is among the foremost
leaders of the world. He has become a leader that many turn to for
resolving problems globally."

Turkey’s co-chairing of the Alliance of Civilizations and its status
as a country that is consulted for problems in the Middle East are
realities that every one should be proud of in Turkey, Bagis
stressed.

Touching on the Turkish economy, Bagis noted that, for the past 23
quarters, Turkish economy has been growing. "No crisis took place in
Turkey during the rule of the AK Party," Bagis indicated.

"Turkey’s Central Bank foreign exchange reserves are at 70 billion
USD. If Erdogan was to order, we would be able to pay our debt to IMF
ten times," Bagis remarked.

In regard to Armenian allegations concerning the incidents of 1915,
Bagis said that this issue has caused an headache for Turkey for
decades.

Turkey has opened all of its archives on the related period and
Erdogan made a call to Armenia to jointly study the archives, Bagis
stated.

"However, no reply came from Armenia in regard to Erdogan’s
invitation," Bagis said.

In reference to Iraq, Bagis told that Turkey has done all it can
prior to the war and after the war in Iraq.

"Turkey pays high attention to the territorial integrity of Iraq as
well as peace in this country," Bagis underlined.

Bagis stressed that the Republic of Turkey is the only country that
all nations in the Middle East have confidence in.

Egemen Bagis underscored that it was AK Party that began entry
negotiations with the European Union (EU).

"To date, there is no country that began negotiations with the EU and
never completed them. Turkey will sooner or later conclude
negotiations. The day when negotiations will be completed, Turkey
will be a different country. I look at the EU as Turkey’s dietician.
27 countries have become affluent and peaceful ones with EU’s
prescriptions," Bagis also said.