Brussels, 11/01/2011 (Agence Europe) - Egemen Bagis, the Turkish minister responsible for European affairs, stated that Turkey remains “firmly committed” to the European Union accession process, despite “discouraging remarks” from certain member states and the prevailing “pessimism” in Turkey about the country's European future. In a declaration published on 11 January (on the second anniversary of his appointment as head of negotiations), Bagis affirmed that the accession process is “the biggest modernisation project after the proclamation of the Republic in 1923”. He explained that “serious obstacles” have so far prevented Turkey from making progress in the negotiations. He emphasised that “17 chapters are subject to political blockade by some EU member states, which we consider unfair and unproductive in Turkish-EU relations”. Since the launch of accession negotiations in October 2005, only 13 chapters have been opened for negotiations and only one of them (science and research) has been provisionally closed. Eight chapters have been suspended since December 2006, due to Turkey's refusal to open its ports and airports to Cypriots (as required by the additional protocol to the Ankara agreement on the extension of the customs union to new member states). Other chapters have been blocked by Cyprus, as well as by France, which is opposed to Turkey joining the EU and is opposing the opening of five chapters directly linked to accession. Out of the 20 remaining chapters, only three are currently “negotiable” - competition policy, public procurement and social policy and employment. The Turkish minister for European affairs declared that “if there had been no political blockades, we would have started negotiations on 12 chapters in the short-run and 4 in the medium-run. Similarly, we would close 4 chapters in the short-term and 8 chapters in the medium-term”. Despite the difficult circumstances, Turkey has accomplished progress over recent years, which should not be underestimated. “Today, Turkey is a more liberal, transparent, strong, prestigious and democratic country than it had been two years ago. That is why we will continue to work with the same ambition, although some statements and policies of our EU counterparts are far from encouraging”, concluded Bagis. (H.B./tansl.fl)