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7 November 2011

Bagis: Solution Based on Political Equality is Beneficial for All

LEFKOSA (A.A) - Turkey's EU Minister & Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis has said that a solution, based on political equality, was beneficial for the future of Turkey as well as security of Cyprus and Europe.

Speaking on Bayrak TV channel of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) on Sunday, Bagis said that a solution could be reached only by the compromise of the two sides in the island, adding that it should become clear whether Cyprus talks would be concluded and a solution would be found by the end of the year.

Noting that it was a mistake to approve Greek Cypriot administration's membership to the EU, Bagis said that EU officials confessed that too.

Bagis said that 70 percent of the energy resources Europe needed took place within Turkey's borders, adding that Europe did not have the chance to reach those resources without Turkey's contribution.

Unfortunately 26 countries were not able to see how a single country put reservation on their interests, he noted.

Bagis said that if a solution was not found till June 2012, the responsible of insolubility would be Greek Cypriot administration, adding that the whole world should know that.

Commenting on Turkey's relations with the EU, Bagis said that Turkey would bring a different momentum in EU process but it would not give up on TRNC for the EU.

Bagis said that Turkey's national income per capita tripled in the last nine years and without being an EU member, adding that growth rate of Turkey was 10.2 percent in the first half of 2011. He noted that 92 percent of global capital came from the EU countries to Turkey.