Bagis alleges that Turkey brought peace to Cyprus in 1974 without anyone’s nose to bleedTurkish Cypriot daily Afrika (14.12.11) reports that the Turkish EU Minister and Chief Negotiator, Egemen Bagis has replied to the statement made the day before yesterday by Peace and Democracy (BDP) MP Ertugrul Kurkcu, who addressing the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA), described as invasion the Turkish military intervention in Cyprus in 1974.

Bagis addressing the TGNA argued, inter alia, the following: “I consider that it would be engage in futile to reply to those, who at the General Assembly of this holy Parliament, called occupier the Turkish army. It is a very serious result for an MP to call the Turkish army occupier during the discussion of the budget of our ministry, which works as a place where reforms are prepared. I have given very important struggles and entered into very important debates at the European Parliament or at various platforms of many EU member states to persuade that the peace operation carried out by Turkey in 1974 secured peace without anyone’s nose to bleed. I have always felt proud of doing this in various parliaments and of defending my country. However, I consider that it would be engage in futile to reply to those, who at our own Parliament, at the General Assembly of this holy Parliament, call occupier the Turkish army. The reply to them will be given by our nation in the ballot box?

Perhaps they could put some obstacles to our negotiation process, but they in no way can prevent our reform process, because this is our own matter. Therefore, we have concentrated on the reforms. If the EU member states decide to lift some extremely irrational and unnecessary political obstacles on Turkey’s 18 chapters, we are in the position of breasting with you all together and succeed in the opening of 10 chapters in 12 months and of 15 chapters in 18 months”.