BAGIS SPEAKS IN CZECH ODS PARTY CONGRESS
AK Party Vice Chairman Egemen Bagis gave a speech in 19th Congress of Czech ODS Party held in Prag on 6th of December.
ODS Chairman and Prime Minister of Czech Republic Mirek Topolanek, President of Czech Republic Vaclav Klaus, Prime Minister of Croatia Ivo Sanader, British Shadow Minister (Conservative Party Chairman) David Cameron, AK Party Vice Chairman Egemen Bagis, Shadow Minister for Europe Mark Francois and other Czech Protocol attended to the Congress and made a speech separately.
In the beginning of his speech, Bagis extended Turkish Prime Minister Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdogan's greetings to ODS party and Czech Republic. Mentioning that Turkey and the Czech Republic have enjoyed ever strengthening tangible cooperation based on shared values and mutual trust, Bagis continued:
"It is that trust that brought me to your convention. We have full confidence that the Check Republic will do a great job of leading EU under your Presidency.
Further enhancement of Turkish-Czech relations is key to meeting the fresh challenges faced by our nations today. Reinforcing the existing ties between us will certainly be mutually beneficial.
The relations on economic, commercial and political areas among our countries are perfect. Turkey and Czech Republic are allies in NATO as well. Turkey's membership to the UN Security Council for the next two years, expresses my hope that relations between Turkey and Czech Republic would further develop in the next period.
Furthermore, Turkey appreciates Czech Republic for its continuing support for Turkey's EU bid and this support would continue after Czech Republic resumed the rotating EU Presidency in the first half of 2009.
President Klaus, PM Topolanek, The Czech Republic and your great nation support my country's EU membership because the know that Turkey's EU aspirations are closely observed by more than 1.5 billion Muslims around the world and that Turkey's EU membership will prove that EU is not a Christian Club but a union of values such as democracy, human rights and individual freedoms."
Having said that Turkey is a gateway to new markets of more than 500 million consumers in the Middle East and the Caucasus's, Bagis continued "Turkey is a vital country for ensuring energy sources and distribution channels are diversified".
Mentioning that with her strong defense capabilities Turkey will strengthen EU security and with her young and dynamic work force Turkey will contribute to the European economic prosperity, Bagis said: "As of 2007, the trade volume between our countries was 1.5 billion USD and my expectancy that it would reach 2 billion USD by the end of the year. We invite entrepreneurs from the two countries to cooperate in the fields of energy, tourism and construction."
"At a time when risks of regional conflicts and political crises are pervasive, the preservation of our common positive agenda and converging positions on various issues have become important more than ever."
Bagis stated that Turkey and its democracy is a beacon in the volatile and unstable Middle East and they appreciate Czech Republic's support to Turkey's initiatives in its region.
Bagis continued: "Turkey will maintain to actively contribute to efforts by the international community to achieve peace in the Middle East. As a member of UNSC and as a Co-Chair of Alliance of Civilizations project of UN, Turkey will continue mediate between Afghanistan and Pakistan, Israel and Syria, Russia and Georgia, Israel and Palestine, Iran and United Sates, Israel and Pakistan, India and Pakistan and all other countries with disputes. Because in our culture we believe we must put an end to the fire at our neighbors' house to prevent fires in our own home.
We believe that Turkish-Czech joint ventures in political, strategic and commercial sense in Turkey and in third countries will not only expand our common vision, but will also become an investment for the future of Turkish-Czech relations.
As we approach the end of the first decade of the 21st Century, we see around us a changing world. In this period of transformation, Turkey is striving to make a difference for the better, not only for itself, but also for the larger neighborhood.
In this regard, we sincerely appreciate cooperation with our Czech friends and the contribution of the ODS Party. The relations among our parties and nations will be more strengthened by those mutual efforts. Your Turkish friends whom I am honored to represent wish you a great convention."