Bagis criticizes EU for its stance on Egypt

Turkey's Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis yesterday met with UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Turkey Kamal Malhotra at the Ministry of EU Affairs in Ankara. Following the meeting, Bagis told reporters that the remarks of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon over the incidents in Egypt were not enough. "Although I believe his discourse should be clearer, more consistent, more convincing and more conscientious, UN Security Council must get into action about Egypt as immediately as possible," Bagis noted. Bagis also criticized the members of the U.N. Security Council of being irrelevant to others due to their own interests and the EU due to its stance on Egypt. Bagis also criticized the EU countries, saying that there are many countries within the EU that are in favor of harsher reactions against the incidents in Egypt, but they couldn't have reached a compromise yet. "If the EU could not name what is already a proper military coup, it would be discredited. Human rights and freedoms, as well as democracy are the most important values and common denominator of the EU. Now all of these values are being disregarded by the military regime in Egypt. Unless the EU criticizes all of these, it would tarnish its image, credibility and respectability," Bagis said.