Turkey's EU minister says Europe should understand its security depends on security in southeastern Turkey

BRUSSELS (A.A) - November 10, 2011 - Turkey's European Union (EU) minister and chief negotiator said on Wednesday that Europeans should understand that their security was linked with security in southeastern Turkey. Egemen Bagis said the terrorist organization PKK was firing bullets in Turkey, it was poisoning Europeans with illicit drugs. "You should understand that Brussel's security starts from Batman, Paris' security starts from Diyarbakir and Berlin's security starts from Sirnak," Bagis told a conference in Brussels, Belgium. Bagis said PKK was in EU's list of terrorist networks, and therefore all EU member states were obliged to fight against PKK. The minister asked Europeans to show the same determination in fight against PKK as in their fight against other terrorist organizations.  Moreover, Bagis said whenever Air France, British Airways and Lufthansa started to fly to Ercan Airport in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Turkey would open all its ports, airports and air space to Greek Cypriot ships and planes.  Egemen Bagis later met European Commissioner for enlargement Stefan Fule, and Fule and Bagis agreed on revival of Turkey-EU relations. According a statement of the European Commission, Fule said Turkey was still a key country for the EU. Fule and Bagis discussed a deeper dialogue and cooperation on political reforms, adjustment to EU acquis, visa, mobility, and migration issues.  Fule eulogized Turkey's efforts for a comprehensive and pluralist new constitution, and encouraged Turkey to go on with its efforts. Also, Fule expressed concern over rising tension between Turkey and the Greek Cypriot administration. Fule said the EU was standing by Turkey in its fight against terrorism and was determined to boost its cooperation with Turkey. Bagis later met European Commissioner for agriculture and rural development Dacian Ciolos. Turkey became an EU candidate country in December 1999. The union launched accession talks with Turkey on October 3, 2005. The EU has so far opened 13 of the 35 chapter headings to negotiations with Turkey.