Turkish EU minister says Turkey will save Europe

MUNICH (A.A) - January 24, 2012 - Turkish EU minister said on Tuesday that as a member of the EU, Turkey would save Europe in the future. EU Minister and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis delivered a speech titled "Turkey in 21st Century" within the scope of "Europe's Digital Life Design Conference" in Munich, Germany. Turkey grew by 8 percent when European countries only grew by 1.5 percent, he said. Turkey and Germany were the only two countries that recorded economic growth in Europe, he said. Turkey achieved great progress in freedoms and free economy market, he said, adding that neighboring countries wanted to become like Turkey. There were more than 30,000 foreign companies in Turkey and Turkish economy kept growing even during global economic crisis, he said. Replying to a question on the bill (criminalizing the denial of Armenian allegations) which was adopted at French Senate on Monday, Bagis said that the decision of the senate was affected by the presidential election to be held in France in May. Politicians should focus on the future not on the past, he added.