ISTANBUL
Turkish EU Minister and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis responded Friday to the comments of Takis Hadjigeorgiou, a Greek Cypriot member of the European Parliament, at the EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee meeting.
"A so-called parliamentarian of a non-existing state and his opinions are only null and void for us," said Bagis speaking at the 4th International Young Businessmen Congress held at Halic Congress Center in Istanbul on Friday. "However, we still host our visitors who come to our country with full respect and friendly manners," he noted.
“[EU Minister] Egemen Bagis reminds me of a small salesman. He is waiting idle as he has no customers. There is a saying in Turkish: ‘The idle shopkeeper weighs blah blah.’ I hope you accept this as a joke,” Hadjigeorgiou said while addressing the committee meeting on Thursday.
The 4th International Young Businessmen Congress, one of the largest organisations conducted by young businessmen in Turkey, was held on Friday with the main theme "Rizk-Risk Dilemma in Business World".
"MUSIAD has been realising significant ambitions with its great experiences," he said and expressed his pleasure with the works of young MUSIAD members.
"The Young MUSIAD is a clear indicator that those who start out by changing themselves could in the end change the world," Bagis noted.
Stressing the determination of Turkey in foreign affairs, Bagis said they did their best for visa-free travel to Europe.
"Turkey has turned into a bridge of hope for Europe in terms of employment and energy," Turkish minister said and shared a statement of European Commissioner for Energy which said, "If Turkey can not become a member of EU in the following 15-20 years, French President as well as German Chancellor will have to beg Turkey to be a member; we should prevent it ahead of time."
Turkish minister said even the statement proved the success and development of Turkey.
Bagis made reference to the announcement of mayoral candidates for 21 provinces in Turkey on Thursday and reiterated that the incumbent Kadir Topbas would run for the upcoming local elections.
Underlining the role of Islamic finance in today's world, the Chief Executive Officer of Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD) Khaled Mohammed Al-Aboodi said the theme of the conference was thought provoking and had deep meaning.
"It has huge social economic implications for the people and the governments," he said. Referring to 'rizk' - livelihood -, Al-Aboodi said, "Allah is the ultimate provider of rizk to all His creations; Allah is the supreme provider."
During the two-day congress, entrepreneurship examples will be exhibited, workshops and bilateral business meetings between young national and international businessmen will be held.
The congress has turned into an international brand by Young MUSIAD, and is held once every two years in Turkey. It addresses key issues on the agenda and hosts thousands of young businessmen, entrepreneurs from many countries across the world as well as national and international academics specialised in their fields, university students, leaders of business.
