EU process is return to cultural origins for Turkey
Turkish State Minister and Chief Negotiator for EU Talks Egemen Bagis said on Tuesday that the EU process is a return to cultural origins for Turkey.
The 17th EU Reform Follow-up Committee meeting was held in the northern province of Trabzon with the participation of Bagis, Interior Minister Besir Atalay, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and Justice Minister Sadullah Ergin.
Speaking to reporters during the gathering, Bagis said that reforms on human rights, democracy and rule of law are important elements of Turkey's EU membership process.
"However, these reforms should not be solely considered within the context of EU membership," Bagis said, noting that such reforms aimed at improving the living standards of Turkish citizens.
"EU process is in fact a return to our cultural origins. While we are proceeding on the way to EU, we are also returning to ourselves," Bagis said, Today's Zaman reported.
The 17th EU Reform Follow-up Committee meeting was held in the northern province of Trabzon with the participation of Bagis, Interior Minister Besir Atalay, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and Justice Minister Sadullah Ergin.
Speaking to reporters during the gathering, Bagis said that reforms on human rights, democracy and rule of law are important elements of Turkey's EU membership process.
"However, these reforms should not be solely considered within the context of EU membership," Bagis said, noting that such reforms aimed at improving the living standards of Turkish citizens.
"EU process is in fact a return to our cultural origins. While we are proceeding on the way to EU, we are also returning to ourselves," Bagis said, Today's Zaman reported.
