Turkey’s breaking off from EU process to be nightmare for Greek Cypriots, Bagis

Turkey’s state minister & chief negotiator for EU talks said on Monday that acceleration of Turkey’s EU process would be advantageous both for Greece and Greek Cypriots.
Chief Negotiator for EU talks Egemen Bagis, speaking at the Istanbul Office of the Secretariat General for the EU Affairs, said that Turkey’s breaking off from the EU process would be a nightmare for Greek Cypriots.
Bagis gave information to journalists about what have been done in the past two years in the EU process.
"The Secretariat General for the EU Affairs works hard with its almost 300 staff. It has a new logo now which indicates interaction between Turkey and the EU," Bagis said.
"We have prepared European Union Strategy for Turkey’s accession process and we have started to implement it," Bagis said, noting that the studies would be carried out till 2013 without considering whether the chapter headings were hindered by political obstacles.
Bagis said chapter headings on Taxation and Food Safety, Veterinary & Phytosanitary Policy were opened to negotiation within the scope of accession negotiations in the past two years, adding that Turkey had made arrangements which directly affected daily life of its citizens within the scope of adjustment works.
He said Biosafety Law, a legal arrangement on Genetically Modified Organisms, was enacted and thus use of products with Genetically Modified Organisms in baby or children food was prevented.
Bagis said 25 laws and 108 secondary legal arrangements were prepared and started to be implemented within the scope of EU harmonization process since January 2009, underlining that very important steps were made in political reforms, which was the third platform of the strategy.
Bagis said they met with the representatives of different belief groups three times and tried to produce solutions to their problems.
"We have prepared publications for citizens to eliminate misinformation about EU and to give them accurate information," he said, adding that, "thanks to the studies in question, Turkey is more free, transparent, powerful, esteemed and democratic when compared with its situation two years ago."
Bagis said, "we have maintained studies despite all kinds of criticisms, pessimism, and political impediments from abroad," and thanked those who supported them.
Responding to a question that, "it was stated that it was hard for Turkey to enter EU unless Cyprus question was resolved," Bagis said, "Greek Cypriots very well know that Turkey’s EU process is their insurance policy. Turkey’s breaking off from the EU process would be their nightmare."
Bagis said, "Turkey has rightful thesis on Cyprus issue. European Council member countries, including Greece, earlier decided to remove blockade on Northern Cyprus but has not implemented it."
"First, they should put an end to unjust blockade on Northern Cyprus. Turkey has stated it would do everything needed to open ports," Bagis said.
Bagis said Turkey went to Cyprus with its troops in 1974 to ensure security there and Greek Cypriots’ stance as if bloody days had not been experienced was an indication of insincerity.
He also referred to what happened to Turkey’s basketball team in Greek Cypriot side, "they should not try patience of Turkey" he noted.