We do not make reforms to please EU, says Bagis

Speaking on the sidelines of an unofficial meeting of the Expansion Working Group of the Council of the European Union held in Lithuania on Thursday, Turkey's Minister of EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis said, "We do not make reforms to please the EU. And we do not care for the reports you publish as much as before. We know that we must undertake those reforms primarily for our own people." Underlining that the reform process would continue in Turkey, Bagis said, "We are working on a new democratization package. It will grant more rights to people with different faiths, cultures and ethnic backgrounds." Reiterating that publication date of the Progress Report of Turkey coincided with the Feast of Sacrifice in Turkey this year, Bagis asked the EU Commission to change the publication date of the Report. "This date is a religious feast in Turkey, and everyone will be on vacation," Bagis said, adding that it would be better for the report to be published a few days before or after the Feast of Sacrifice.