Bagis: "Turkey will be shining star of Europe in 2013"

Speaking on the course of Turkey's membership talks with the EU in 2011 and expectations from the year 2012, EU Minister and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis stressed yesterday that Turkey has taken important steps in many issues ranging from the Code of Obligations, Commercial Law, baby food and agriculture as part of its reforms, and that process of membership talks should be kept separate from this issue. "Of course, the year 2011 was not an easy one and it will also be a tough year for 2012, because elections will be held in France in May 2012. We have been witnessing already that French President Nicolas Sarkozy has started to distort and exploit Turkey's candidacy status, process of membership talks and even historical facts. Besides, the Greek Cypriot administration will take over EU term presidency in July just after those elections. We will be unfortunately facing a term presidency to be undertaken by a half-state," said Bagis. Speaking on the process of preparing a new Constitution, Bagis said, "I hope we will experience an important process aimed at preparing a transparent and civilian Constitution which embraces all the citizens on equal conditions. If we can achieve this goal, we will be able to overcome terrorism. I also hope that providing Turkey with a Constitution on EU standards will create impacts on other relevant fields as well." Bagis also touched upon the year 2013 and afterwards, saying that Turkey will be the shining star of Europe in 2013.