Bagis writes a letter to New York Times

Turkey's Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis has written a letter to the New York Times. "Unquestionably, Turkey has been undertaking the necessary steps for further democratization by expanding the rights and liberties of its citizens. During the Justice and Development Party (AKP) rule over the last decade, millions of people have moved into the middle class. Socioeconomic transformation has been going hand in hand with democratization. People with different issues started to claim their rights as a consequence of this enormous socioeconomic change," the letter read, adding, "Besides, be it for environmental issues or individual freedoms, protesting against a democratically elected government without resorting to violence I believe proves Turkish society's European identity. Turkish people from all walks of life have opted for the AKP in the last three elections because people from different backgrounds had the chance to express themselves more openly. We, as the government, will continue to ensure the sustainability of a democratic environment as in other European democracies, where different voices can be heard in a peaceful manner."