Bagis criticizes France for turning freedom of expression into a handicap of expression

Turkey's EU Minister and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis said on Wednesday that Europe had a dilemma within itself. Speaking at a press conference in Brussels, Bagis said, "On one side there is an EU that cares about freedom of expression in Turkey, and on the other side we face EU members that turn freedom of expression into a handicap of expression. What France is exactly doing is to turn freedom of expression into a handicap of expression and bring Europe back to middle ages. This situation causes the EU appear weak." Bagis also criticized the Greek Cypriot administration for hindering the opening of 23rd and 24th chapters which consist of such issues as freedom and human rights to membership talks with the EU, despite the EU has stipulated the opening of these two chapters so that others could be negotiated as well.