ANKARA
Turkey's European Union (EU) minister and chief negotiator said on Thursday that Turkey would travel to EU member states without visa sooner or later.
Egemen Bagis said that they were working on visa procedures with the EU, but they had not made such a significant progress.
"Turkey's stance is obvious. We will win the right to travel to EU member states without visa sooner or later," Bagis told AA correspondent in an exclusive interview.
Bagis said as long as Turkey became stronger and national income per capita increased, all obstacles on road to EU would be eliminated.
Egemen Bagis defined Europe's mentality as the one which was trying to lead Turkey to only three chapters by locking negotiations on 17 chapters, and said he would defend Turkey's rights till the very end.
"I will continue to defend interests of my country and nation regarding visa procedures, cooperation with Europe in fight against terrorism, chapter headings and Cyprus issue," Bagis said.
Moreover, Bagis said France's perspective on Turkey's EU process had started to change after Francois Hollande became the president of the country, and noted that Turkish Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan had a constructive phone talk with Hollande.
Bagis said French business world expected the new government to boost relations with Turkey because Turkey was a market consisting of 75 million people.
"French companies want to establish better relations with Turkey to reach this consumer market with their products. I think that Hollande will take demands of business world into consideration," Bagis said.
Bagis expressed belief that change in leadership in European countries would eliminate prejudice, help Europe see their interests and perceive Turkey's importance.
Egemen Bagis hoped this change would be beneficial because Turkey's EU process was for the best interests of not only Turkey but also Europe.
"I hope these two parties will take their mutual interests into consideration, and reach a more logical point in this process," Bagis also said.
Turkey became an EU candidate country in December 1999. The union launched accession talks with Turkey on October 3, 2005.
The EU has so far opened 13 of the 35 chapter headings to negotiations with Turkey.
(Reporting by Kubilay Celik)
