European Union Affairs Minister and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bağış at a gala dinner held under the slogan, “I drink Turkish coffee and claim it as my own,” said Turkish coffee should not be sacrificed for technology and that the country should not let its coffee lose its originality, adding that “Turkish coffee is a good symbol for Turkey’s accession process to the European Union.”
Bağış, in a speech he gave at the gala dinner organized by the Turkish Coffee Culture and Research Association and held at the Adile Sultan Palace, said he believes that this organization will give Turkey a fresh start in promoting Turkish coffee in Europe not only as a drink but also as the epitome of Turkish culture.
Bağış emphasized that the country should not forget the old Turkish saying, “A cup of Turkish coffee will be remembered for 40 years,” and said: “Everybody has had a love affair with coffee. As is known, coffee is good for many ailments when drunk in moderation. We have gathered here tonight to claim Turkish coffee as our own as it has an irreplaceable role in our culture.
