Bagis to EU: "Physician, heal thyself"

Turkish leaders see its European Union membership process as part of their "Great Turkey" vision, and will continue to do so, Interior Minister Besir Atalay said yesterday. Speaking at a meeting at Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB) headquarters in Ankara about a project to boost provincial governors' involvement in Turkey's EU accession process, Atalay stressed that the EU needs to accept Turkey as a full member. Telling how Turkey has made great progress in recent years to align itself with EU criteria in a number of areas, Atalay said, "Once Turkey was associated with torture cases, and saw many lawsuits filed against it with the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). But when we (the ruling Justice and Development Party, or AK Party) came to power, we introduced a policy of zero tolerance for torture." EU countries will likely one day belatedly ask Turkey to join the bloc, Atalay predicted. "The main point is that we continue our determined path towards the EU," he added. Also speaking at the meeting, Chief EU Talks Negotiator Egemen Bagis spoke about the democratic progress Turkey has made in recent years. Referring to tense 2004 negotiations with EU leaders to made them declare a date for starting Turkey's accession talks, Bagis said, "Back then Turkey had many democratization problems. People were afraid to use their mother tongue, and couldn't express their opinions freely. Now the impact of the EU accession process is seen all areas of life in Turkey." He stressed that amid rising anti-foreigner sentiments across Europe, Turkey's democratic expansion policies at home has become a source of inspiration for other countries in Europe. Comparing the EU to a doctor who fails to heed his own health advice, Bagis said, "But we will fulfill the EU's prescription, and Turkey's full membership will come true." On the stopover visit to Turkey tomorrow of French President Nicolas Sarkozy, a staunch opponent of Turkey's EU membership bid, Bagis said President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will give Sarkozy very clear messages. Also attending a reception hosted by Dutch Ambassador in Ankara Jan-Paul Dirkse yesterday, Bagis called Turkey the solution to various problems facing the EU. "Turkey will save the EU," he suggested.