Turkish minister: US, EU acknowledge Turkey's sensitivities

Turkish Minister of European Union (EU) and chief negotiator Egemen Bagis said, "for the first time we witness that a Turkish leader was welcomed such respectfully, hospitably and sensitively." Sharing his impressions about Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's Washington visit with Anadolu Agency, Bagis emphasized that for the first time a Turkish leader was welcomed such respectfully. Bagis said hopefully Turkey's rise would be appreciated by other countries, too. Pointing at the way Erdogan and the delegation accompanying him were treated during the visit, Bagis said, "this is the result of Turkey's power and its being a galvanizer in its region." Bagis, stating that he took place in almost all the visits by Turkish delegation to the US since 1983, said "For the first time we witness that a Turish leader was welcomed such respectfully, hospitably and sensitively." Reminding that the leading 100 Turkish businessmen accompanied Erdogan, Bagis said, "a new high level working committee will be set up between Turkey's Economy Ministry and US Office of Trade Representative which will handle Turkish-US trade relations as well as the negotiations within the US-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations with Turkey." Bagis announced that he would visit Washington with Minister of Economy Zafer Caglayan to guarantee Turkey's sensitivities and interests with regard to the FTA negotiations. US and EU aware of Turkey's sensitivities In response to a question regarding Turkey's sensitivities, Bagis quoted the EU's Washington representative Joao Vale de Almeida during their talk three weeks ago in Washington as saying, "President of the EU Commission Jose Manuel Barroso has a clear commitment for Turkey not to be damaged by this (FTA negotiations between the US and the EU)." Bagis added that the US was also aware of Turkey's sensitivities which was again a result of Turkey's self-confidence.