Turkey's EU minister says gvt accepts every citizen as s/he is

ANKARA (A.A) - February 21, 2012 - Turkey's European Union (EU) minister and chief negotiator said on Tuesday that the government accepted every citizen as s/he was. Egemen Bagis said the government did not want anybody to feel himself/herself as "the other" in Turkey. "We do not want to change any citizen, we accept them as they are and we love them all," Bagis said as he received Irish Ambassador to Turkey Thomas Russell, who paid a farewell visit to himself, in Ankara. Minister Bagis' remarks came after representatives of minorities in Turkey visited the parliament on Monday. Bagis expressed hope that the new constitution would embrace all citizens of different beliefs, adding that Ireland was one of the countries that extended the most support to Turkey's EU membership bid. Also speaking in the meeting, Russell said Irish minister for EU relations would visit Turkey in a few months, and noted that Ireland was supporting Turkey's EU membership. Russell also said he would continue to support Turkey.