It is time for Turkey to play in 'all star' team of Europe, says EU Minister Bagis

VILNIUS (A.A) - January 11, 2012 - Turkish Minister for European Union (EU) Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis said Wednesday that "it was time for Turkey to play in the 'all star' team of Europe". Speaking at a joint press conference with the Lithuanian Foreign Minister Audronius Azubalis in Vilnius, Bagis said that Azubalis and he discussed Turkish-Lithuanian relations as well as Turkish-EU relations in a meeting they held today. Thanking Azubalis for an article he wrote on the importance of Turkish membership in the EU, Bagis said that the Lithuanians should raise their voice so that the "visa torture" applied to Turkey ends. Touching on Lithuania's success in basketball, Bagis stressed that it was high time for Turkey "to play in the 'all star' team of Europe". I do hope that Lithuania's term presidency in the EU would approach the future of Europe more logically. A new Europe is only possible with Turkey, Bagis stressed. Europe needs Turkey just as much as Turkey needs Europe. The process is a case of win-win for both parties, Bagis also said. Minister Azubalis, in his part, said that "in general, we view EU's expansion positively. This would bring democracy and security to the region". In reference to a question, Azubalis said that Europe did not meet a crisis for the first time. The EU will successfully overcome the current economic crisis, Azubalis noted. Touching on Turkey and membership in the EU, Azubalis stressed that Turkey was a crucial partner of the EU from both an economic and political perspective. Turkey plays an important role in the region and this role continues to grow. Turkey can help solve the problems in the Middle East and bring stability. We attach high importance to this. Turkey and the EU must work closely. We support Turkish membership in the EU strongly. However, we witness certain countries resisting the Turkish membership. I hope that we will find a common approach in the EU in the near future vis-a-vis Turkish membership. Everyone must understand that objections to the Turkish membership and the power to veto Turkey do not help the EU countries, Azubalis also said.