"TURKEY WILL NOT SURRENDER TO EUROPEAN COUNTRIES JUST TO BECOME AN EU MEMBER," BAG’ISH SAYS

zaman
Dec 07, 2009

Turkey’s Chief EU Negotiator said that Turkey would not surrender
and commit to all demands of each and every member countries of the
EU just because it wanted to become a part of the club.

In an interview on BBC show "Hardtalk", Bag’ish said that Turkey’s
membership was as important to EU as it was to Turkey.

"This is a relationship based on a win-win situation and either we
all win or we have to look at the situation," Bag’ish said.

Bag’ish said Turkey was a proud nation and that the European Union
needed Turkey just as much as Turkey needs the EU.

"Europe has to make big decisions," he said. "At a time when 70 percent
of all the energy resources Europe needs, are either to the south or
to the north or to the east of Turkey."

Bag’ish went on saying, "at a time when Turkey is a bridge to these
energy resources, a bridge to new consumers, a bridge to 1.5 billion
consumers within 3 hours flying, a bridge to all the raw materials and
a barrier to illegal immigration, a barrier to narcotics and terrorism,
a partner in solving climate problem, a partner in solving the economic
crisis with a median age of 28, having the fourth largest work force,
can Europe afford to lose Turkey?"

Asked about recent comments that Turkey shifted its axis to the East,
Bag’ish said Turkey had always been a bridge between the East and
the West.

Stating that a bridge needed two pillars, Bag’ish said Turkey had
neglected one of these pillars for years. He said Turkey was now
trying to make them both stronger.

"Our relations with Iran, Syria, Armenia and Georgia are not
alternative to relations with Europe, but they are complementary,"
he said.

Bag’ish also reaffirmed Turkish government’s commitment to negotiations
and membership to EU and added that "Turkish government would continue
negotiations as long as it is fair and impartial."

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress