Turkish premier receives phone call from U.S. president

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan had a phone conversation with U.S. President Barack Obama on Monday.
Sources said that President Obama phoned Erdogan on Monday night.
During their phone conversation, Erdogan and Obama discussed the recent developments in Libya and exchanged views.

A leader of an EU country tries to begin a process that is against international laws, Turkish EU chief negotiator says
Turkish State Minister and Chief Negotiator for EU talks, Egemen Bagis, said Tuesday that a leader of a European Union (EU) country organized a meeting to begin his election campaign and tried to begin a process against another country, which was not in line with international laws.
Bagis’s comments came after French President Nicolas Sarkozy led efforts for air strikes against Libya in the last few days.
Speaking in a meeting at the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) in Ankara, Bagis said that Turkey was one of the foremost countries that benefitted most from EU funds.
In 2013, Turkey will receive around one billion euros from the EU. If the funds are used wisely, Turkey will fulfill many of its needs, Bagis said.
Turkey’s democracy, human rights, and freedom of expression have reached a more contemporary point during its EU process, Bagis said.
When we look at individuals demonstrating in streets in different parts of the world, we notice that they want to be like Turkey, Bagis said.
They want democracy, respect for human rights, freedom of expression, a good life in a market economy, better schools and better hospitals. When they make such demands, they look at Turkey. They say to themselves that if Turkey could achieve such traits so could we, Bagis said.
The EU is a peace project. It will become a global project once Turkey becomes a full member of the union, Bagis said.
Touching on the air strikes on Libya, Egemen Bagis said that "a European leader began his election campaign by organizing a meeting that led to a process of air strikes against Libya. He has acted before a NATO decision and his act was based on his subjective evaluation of an United Nations resolution".
In regard to Turkey’s EU process, Egemen Bagis said that Turkey would never give up aspirations for EU membership.
We carry the responsibility of three billion Muslims in the world. Turkey will continue to help all the relevant (Muslim) countries in developing their hopes, Bagis added.