Chief EU negotiator defines EP report as product of bargaining between political groups

The Turkish chief negotiator for talks with the European Union said on Friday that European Parliament’s latest report on Turkey was a product of the bargaining between several political groups.
Turkish State Minister & Chief Negotiator for EU Talks Egemen Bagis met with Foreign Minister Huseyin Ozgurgun of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) in capital Ankara.
Speaking at the gathering, Bagis said relations between Turkey and TRNC, as well as EP’s latest report on Turkey’s progress in EU process had been discussed during his meeting with Ozgurgun.
"We both think that the report has no connection with realities, and in fact, it is a text prepared as a result of a bargaining between different political groups," Bagis said.
Ozgurgun said in his part that Turkish Cypriots welcomed Turkey’s objection to "sacrificing TRNC on the way to EU".
Referring to a recent study conducted by his ministry, Ozgurgun said 70 percent of Turkish Cypriots considered themselves as the grandchildren of the Ottoman empire.
Ozgurgun said 70 percent of the nation also described their identity as "both Turkish and Cypriot", besides, they expressed that the Turkish identity had a priority for them.
"Unfortunately, EP has taken a decision contrary to Turkish Cypriot nation’s opinion. They suggest that Turkish soldiers should withdraw from Cyprus. We do not know the grounds for such suggestion. We have already expressed that Turkish troops could withdraw from the island after an agreement and a comprehensive solution," he said.
Ozgurgun also noted that introducing the Cyprus issue as an obstacle before Turkey was an unfair move.