ISTANBUL
Turkey's EU Minister and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis said that it was out of question for Turkey to take a back step on the way to EU membership.
Speaking at a joint press conference with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton, and EU Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighborhood Policy Stefan Fule at the end of the "Turkey-EU Political Dialogue Meeting" in Istanbul, Egemen Bagis said that there were certain politicians in the EU who thought they can block Turkey with a narrow vision.
"Yet we watch these politicians being sent to holiday and retirement by their electors," Bagis stressed.
EU membership is a strategic goal of Turkey. Turkey's steps for reforms have made Turkey more democratic, transparent, prosperous, respectable and self-confident, Bagis underlined.
Ashton praises strategic ties with Turkey
On the other hand, European Union's foreign policy chief has praised the strategic ties between the union and Turkey.
Speaking at the joint press conference held after the gathering, Ashton said the Union supported the launch of the Positive Agenda initiative.
"I really do hope that it will give new momentum to the accession process," she said.
Ashton pointed to the excellent cooperation between Turkey and EU on foreign policy.
