Bagis: "Both the ruling and opposition parties are committed to our EU membership talks"

After completing his contacts in Brussels, State Minister and chief EU talks negotiator Egemen Bagis yesterday returned to Turkey. Afterwards, evidently referring to main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal's recent visit to Brussels, Bagis told reporters that both the opposition and ruling parties are committed to Turkey's full membership talks with the European Union. Stating that Turkey has been moving closer to the West for nearly 100 years, he added, "Turkey has become an important actor in both the Middle East peace process and the Caucasus, and this situation has a great effect on our EU negotiation process."