Pace head puig visits Ankara

Parliamentary Assembly of Council of Europe (PACE) President Lluis Maria de Puig yesterday visited Ankara to mark the capital winning the 2009 European Prize, an annual award to a city for its actions in the European domain. During his visit, Puig met with Parliament Speaker Mehmet Ali Sahin, main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal, opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli, and European Union talks chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis. Meeting with Bagis, Puig expressed his support for Turkey’s EU bid. “There is no doubt that Turkey has historically been a part of Europe, despite current difficulties,” he said.