Turkish chief EU negotiator and Minister Egemen Bagis gave a speech at the Bruges European College. Bagis said that if Turkey was accepted to the EU, this would benefit both sides since Turkey could solve many of the problems in Europe by her young population, her efforts in regional peace and her dynamic economy. Bagis emphasized that Turkey was determined in the process and if the EU rejected Turkey, then it would become a Christian club.
Bagis also said that Turkey of today would not become a member of the EU of today and when the negotiations would be completed, both sides would change a lot. He emphasized that the “borders of EU was in our heads” since 30 years ago, it came till the Pyrenees but today it included Greece and it could also include Istanbul. Bagis criticized the opposition for preventing Turkey’s acceptation to the EU.
Source: Yeni Safak, habervaktim (Turkey), February 4, 2010
