Egemen Bağış Speaks on "Public Diplomacy"

Speaking at the "Public Diplomacy" program organized by the Bahçeşehir University Center for Strategic Research, Minister for European Union Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bağış made striking statements on current issues. Commenting on various topics from foreign policy to the EU process and from education policies to sporting achievements, Bağış also addressed the recent ferry hijacking. Bağış said, "Those behind the sea bus hijacking last night will drown in this country's sea of brotherhood."

According to Egemen Bağış, who noted that Türkiye has come a long way in public diplomacy, Türkiye is now followed even in the most remote parts of the world. Also noting that Türkiye is among the most popular countries thanks to the projects carried out by successful Turks in different parts of the world, Egemen Bağış said, "Politicians used to be afraid to go abroad, because there were three topics of discussion: the Armenian issue, the Cyprus issue and terrorism. But today we receive speeches and questions on different topics, from our European Union process to our work in the Middle East, and from our strengthening economy to our sporting achievements. Foreign policy is a process carried out with people. We have made this a policy, and now we are reaping its fruits."

Speaking at Bahçeşehir University, Minister Egemen Bağış also assessed developments in Arab countries. Bağış said, "Türkiye is the westernmost country of the East and the easternmost country of the West. Istanbul is also such a city. For this reason, when you go to Arab countries and the Middle East, your words are perceived as more sincere and realistic. That is why, when our Prime Minister landed in Cairo at two in the morning, he was welcomed by 20 thousand people. When we say 'do not be afraid of secularism; secularism is not irreligion,' Türkiye is the country that can say this most sincerely to Middle Eastern countries."

Referring to the European Union process, Egemen Bağış stated that the people will make the final decision on EU membership, but that the focus should now be on the process. "We are already a part of the European Union," said Bağış, continuing: "Today, wherever you go in the world, you will come across a successful Turk. The most successful doctor in the USA is a Turk. Turkish directors are behind the most awarded films in Germany and Italy. Looking at it, Austria, known as a country that does not look very favorably on Türkiye's EU membership, has been the country investing the most in Türkiye for the last three years. The business world has moved ahead of politics. We are also achieving significant success in science. Last week I was in Latvia for a program. I saw that Bahçeşehir University had opened a faculty of architecture in the capital Riga, and I was proud. I was happy to see that Bahçeşehir had opened an office in Berlin and was carrying out work for the Turkish-German university to be established in Germany. Today, Turkish academics abroad want to return to Türkiye and carry out their work here."