Bagis argued the U.S. should also encourage sides in Cyprus to reach a solution

According to Ankara Anatolia news agency (18.10.11), during a meeting on Tuesday with members of U.S. House of Representatives and senior advisers, Turkish Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis, said that Turkey-U.S. relations were important, adding that the relations were healthy.

Bagis noted that Turkey and the U.S. had many common points such as democracy, respect to human rights and freedom of thought, adding that the relations in politics, security and military were also on good level.

It is necessary to further develop economic relations too, he added.

Recalling that the U.S. extended support to Turkey’s EU accession process, Bagis said that the U.S. should also encourage sides in Cyprus to reach a solution.

Bagis also wanted the U.S. to convince the EU to prevent Cyprus problem hampering Turkey’s EU membership process.