11/10/2004 (Agence Europe) - CSU MEP Angelika Niebler, who complained about the Turkish Ambassador to the EU failing to attend the women's rights' committee on 4 October, which was discussing the position of women in Turkey (EUROPE 6 October p 6) has provoked a response from Ambassador Oguz Demiralp explained that he had written to the president of the parliamentary committee Anna Zaborska indicating that he "had previous engagements with other EU institutions", which prevented him from attending on 4 October, and that he requested that they debate the situation on women at another date, so that he could participate. The parliamentary committee was unable to postpone the meeting, wrote the Ambassador, who added that it was false to say that he had no respect for EP committees, "On the contrary, I am ready to appear before the Committee of the European Parliament (EP). Since I came to Brussels, I have spared no effort to enhance relations between Turkey and the EP…I am more than familiar with this dossier…I am ready to engage in a fruitful dialogue" with parliament. The Ambassador also said that "I served three years in Munich" and was more than familiar with Bavaria (Ms Niebler's region), a "region which is dear to my heart".