Turkey's chief negotiator on minaret ban in Switzerland

Chief negotiator Bağış, while speaking at a tv program on TRT Turk in Stockholm, commented on a referendum held in Switzerland on November 29 barring construction of minarets in this country.

"EU has standards that have emerged after long-lasting discussions. It has standards on how the construction plans would be made on such issues. It is very nonsense to resort to referendum on an issue pertaining to fundamental rights," Bağış said.

Bağış said not only the Islamic countries but also the executives of countries that have overwhelmingly Christian population condemned the incident in Switzerland.

Bağış underlined importance of the role Turkey would assume in this process, "We know that Turkish citizens living in Switzerland may relay messages for peace and assume very important roles for the Swiss towards steps to correct this mistake."

Urging Switzerland to correct this mistake, Bağış said Switzerland should not be an open air museum of intolerance in the middle of Europe.

"Islam is such big civilization that it will boost without minarets. Muslims do not need minaret, but at the same time Switzerland does not need this shame," Bağış said.

Referring to the statement of Swiss justice minister that the decision would be rejected by the jurisdiction, Bağış said Switzerland started to comprehend its mistake.

Commenting on Turkey's EU process, Bağış said Turkey fulfilled very serious reforms in this process and all those were the indications of the Turkish government's decisiveness.

Bağış said the EU was the most comprehensive peace process of the humanity, indicating that the union would become more meaningful with the participation of Turkey.

"The process is based on 'win-win' platform," chief negotiator said.

CYPRUS

While commenting on Cyprus process, Bağış said, "The stance the Turkish government has been assuming since 2002 is very different. We have changed all international balances on the island without withdrawing any soldier and giving a piece of soil."

"We may do what is necessary regarding opening of ports on condition that the EU member countries keep their promises," Bağış said and pointed to importance of terminating unjust embargoes imposed on the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).

Bağış said the ports had been open till 1987, noting that the ports could be opened again as long as the blockade on TRNC was removed. However he noted that it would not mean Greek Cypriot party was recognized.

Referring to the EU summit in December, Bağış said, "if they give in to the demands of 600,000 Greek Cypriots and disregard a young and dynamic country having 72 million population, then they should bear the consequences of it."

Bağış also said, "the Turkish government takes right steps on Cyprus issue," adding that the negotiation process of the two leaders in Cyprus should not be hampered.