Turkish EU minister says French president uses Turkey's EU process as a political campaign

PODGORICA (A.A) - January 10, 2011 - Turkish EU minister said on Tuesday that French President Nicolas Sarkozy used Turkey's EU accession process as a political campaign. EU Minister and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis, who is visiting Montenegro, said, "I am sure that Sarkozy will not be successful," at a conference in capital Podgorica. Turkey could share some of its experiences on EU talks with Montenegro, he said. There has been a great transformation in Turkey and the country would keep changing, he said. "We should continue reforms that will make our countries more democratic and powerful," he said. Bagis said that Turkey was fulfilling EU reforms for Turkish people not for Sarkozy or Merkel. "Turkey is currently the 16th largest economy in the world and 6th largest one in Europe. We have the fastest growing economy in Europe. We are implementing EU criteria and this makes us a powerful partner of the EU," he said. Bagis said Turkish citizens had to obtain visa to enter the Schengen area, and it was discouraging. In regard to the Cyprus issue, he said the issue must not be a precondition for Turkey's EU membership.  Meanwhile, Bagis was received by Montenegro's President Filip Vujanovic. Later he had meetings with Deputy Prime Minister for the Political System, Interior, & Foreign Policy Dusko Markovic and Foreign Affairs & European Integration Minister Milan Rocen.  Bagis also met with State Minister Rafet Husovic, Deputy Parliament Speaker Rifat Rastoder, and Islamic Union President Rifat Feyzic.