ANKARA
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said European Union General Affairs Council decided to open Chapter 22 which regulates regional policies in Turkey's EU accession talks.
Davutoglu made a press statement in the Turkish capital, Ankara regarding the negotiation process with the EU on opening of talks on "Regional Policy.
"EU General Affairs Council decided to open Chapter 22 in Turkey's EU accession talks. Any delay would be out of question. l do not see any obstacles for the opening of Chapter 22. l want to see positive results," said Davutoglu. "This decision clearly says Chapter 22 has been opened.[...] What is more important is that the decision has been made and it has been confirmed the chapter was opened. Joint works will continue for not only this chapter but also others to be opened as we agreed."
Davutoglu said reviewing the decision was out of question adding only procedural meetings would be decided later.
"I hope we will not go through such crisis again. Turkey- EU train will move to reach its target in the quickest way," said Davutoglu. " The obstacle which would prevent Turkey- EU relations was removed in this way.
EU is a strategic target for Turkey, said Davutoglu hoping the EU would assess Turkey's membership with the same strategic perspective.
Davutoglu also said he had talked to his Dutch counterpart Frans Timmermans over the phone and Timmermans expressed support for the opening of the chapter.
Davutoglu said they wanted Chapter 23 and 24 to be opened immediately adding these chapters were important in terms of human rights and freedoms.
Bagis: "EU decision will help solution process"
Turkey's EU Minister and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis stated, EU General Affairs Council's decision to open chapter 22 in accession talks with Turkey was a chapter of regional policies and added, "This has been a meaningful contribution into Turkey's solution process" referring to the ongoing process on Kurdish issue.
Upon the questions of Turkish reporters in the Parliament, Bagis assessed the recent decision of the council to open chapter 22 in regards to Turkey's EU negotiations process.
In regards to the topic, Bagis said, they held intense phone calls in the past 72 hours and he thanked Turkey's Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle for conducting to reach the demanded point with a strategic approach.
Bagis said, "Many sides, either in Turkey or outside Turkey, got a chance to understand the importance of Turkey's EU process."
He added, Turkey has opened a chapter after three years of time and number of chapters opened rose to 14.
Turkish minister underlined that the context and the timing of the chapter was important and added, "The regional policies chapter is an important chapter to close the gap of development levels between regions, to have better income distribution in different regions of Turkey. This has been a meaningful contribution into Turkey's solution process as we attach importance in combating terrorism."
Bagis highlighted that Turkey's next chapters of 23 and 24 were really important for Turkey's democratization and added that all member countries had to pay attention to the calls of opening these chapters and hoped for all blocks to be lifted for the opening of the chapters.
