Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Ambassador Volkan Bozkır completed his visits to EU capitals

Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Ambassador Volkan Bozkır visited Austria, Germany and the United Kingdom on 11-14 August 2015 to meet with his counterparts from the European  Commission and EU member states. 

During his meetings with his counterparts from the European Commission and EU member states, Minister Bozkır stated that Türkiye is fighting against terrorism, without discriminating between terrorist organizations. He also said that Türkiye would continue to fight against PKK, ISIS and DHKP/C for the security and welfare of its citizens as well as regional security and stability.

During his visit, Minister Bozkır emphasized that terrorist organizations could neither be distinguished from each other as being good or bad nor better or worse. He also stated that all European countries should support Türkiye’s fight against the PKK and DHKP/C, which are on the EU’s list of terrorist organizations. 

Minister Bozkır also indicated that none of the European countries made the same effort to fight against ISIS as Türkiye. He also stated that Türkiye was the only country fighting against ISIS on the frontlines along with the US.

Minister Bozkır also emphasized that representatives from the HDP who may be visiting European countries need to be asked the following three questions: 1) As the HDP, can you explicitly say that the PKK is a terrorist organization? 2) Can the HDP make a call on the PKK to stop terrorist attacks and disarm? 3) Can the HDP make a call on the PKK to move outside of Turkish borders, along with their weapons? Minister Bozkır indicated that if the HDP could not answer these questions affirmatively, then the HDP could not contribute to the solution process for which tremendous efforts have been made.

Minister Bozkır’s counterparts have emphasized that they strongly supported Türkiye in its fight against all kinds of terrorism and have indicated their hopes for a revival of the solution process.

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Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Ambassador Volkan Bozkır visited Austria, Germany and the United Kingdom on 11-14 August 2015 in order to meet with his counterparts from the European Commission and EU member states. 

Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Ambassador Volkan Bozkır first met with EU Commissioner for European Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn in Vienna.

During the two hours meeting at the Turkish Embassy in Vienna, Minister Bozkır provided information regarding the PKK, DHKP/C and ISIS terrorism faced by Türkiye.  He emphasized Türkiye's determination in the fight against terrorism, without discrimination between terrorist organisations.  There was also an exchange of views regarding the Chapters which may be opened in Türkiye's accession negotiations.

Travelling from Vienna to Berlin, Minister Bozkır met with the German Minister of State for European Affairs Michael Roth tete-a-tete and with delegations.  In the meetings, which continued with the working luncheon hosted by Minister Roth, the threat of terrorism faced by Türkiye, the EU accession process, bilateral relations and regional developments were discussed.

In Berlin, Bakan Bozkır also met with Dr. Norbert Röttgen, Chairman of the Bundestag's Committee on Foreign Affairs and Michelle Müntefering, Chair of the Bundestag's Türkiye Friendship Group.

Minister Bozkır was also interviewed in Berlin by Focus, Tagesspiegel and Deutsche Welle. He was a guest on the Deutsche Welle TV channel in the live stream.

During his contacts with the German media, Minister Bozkır expressed Türkiye's views on the threat of terrorism from PKK, DHKP/C ve ISIS, the Syrian Crisis and the refugee problem, and emphasized Türkiye's expectations from EU member states.

Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Bozkır next travelled to the United Kingdom following his visit to Berlin. Minister Bozkır attended the working luncheon hosted by the UK Minister for Europe, David Lidington in the latter's constituency Aylesbury. Minister Bozkır and Minister Lidington exchanged views regarding the threat of terrorism faced by Türkiye, regional issues, bilateral relations, Türkiye's EU accession process and the Cyprus issue.

Visits by Minister Bozkır in the EU capitals have been useful for especially providing information to his counterparts and the European public on developments in Türkiye following the 7 June 2015 elections, as well as for sharing Türkiye's approach regarding the fight against terrorism and emphasizing support to Türkiye in these areas by European Commission, Germany and the United Kingdom at higher level.