Bagis: "Turkey will continue its EU accession without sacrificing its national policy"

For the first time in his new post, chief European Union talks negotiator Egemen Bagis yesterday met with members of Parliament's EU Harmonization Committee to tell them about the national program for this year's EU reforms. Bagis urged members of opposition parties to support the program during the meeting, which lasted about three hours. Saying that Turkey will continue its EU accession process without sacrificing its national policy, Bagis added, "We're seeking full membership. No other option is acceptable." Afterwards, Bagis also met with socialist group head in the European Parliament Martin Schultz, saying, "Turkish people believe that EU membership will make a great contribution in areas such as human rights and democracy."