Brussels, 23/04/2013 (Agence Europe) - On 19 April, Turkish Minister for Foreign Affairs Egemen Bagis hailed the European Parliament's support “for the reforms made in Turkey, as well as the reconciliation process that was started recently and the call for this process to be concluded successfully”. He also hailed the Parliament's call for the opening of chapters, referring to the resolution adopted by the Parliament on 18 April (see EUROPE 10830). “The resolution's spirit and language in general terms confirm and recognise the determination of our government on the reforms”, he said, adding that “Turkey's position and importance as a strategic regional actor are equally important” in the report.
However, Bagis believed that the report includes “unfair criticism”, particularly about the conflict with Cyprus, and he underlined that the EU has not fulfilled its obligations on the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) since 2005, or on the question of visas. “Turkey expects the European Parliament - the representative of the European people and the voice of European public opinion - to be fair and impartial”, Bagis stated. (CG/transl.fl)