THE VISIT OF THE SPD DELEGATION
The Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) deputies Uta Zapf, Ottmar Schreiner, Johannes Kahrs, SPD former deputy Ozan Ceyhun, and the Friedrich Ebert Foundation Representative to Turkey Bettina Luise Rürup were accepted by AK Party Vice Chairman in Charge of Foreign Affairs and Istanbul Deputy Egemen Bagis in AK Party Headquarters, on June 10th, 2008.
During the meeting, SPD deputy Zapf refered to the importance of the reform process during the EU membership negotiations, and the need of putting the freedoms written in the Constitution into practice; and addressed some questions on the policies of the AK Party about these issues. Furthermore, the deputies showed a great concern on the closure case of the rulling AK Party and possible ban of 71 of its politicians from politics.Bagis replied that Prime Minister Erdogan has faced lots of difficulties and bans all along his political life, but these brought him to power in a more stronger position, and that at the end of the day he emerged as one of the most successful Prime Ministers in the history. Bagis also mentioned that he does not believe there is a possibility of AK Party to be closed. He emphasied that, it is not Turkey but EU member countries that slowed down the EU process.