Turkish EU Affairs Minister Egemen Bagis Says Greece Should ‘Mind Its Own Business’

Turkey’s European Union (EU) Minister and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis expressed “hope” on Wednesday that Greece would deal with its own economic problems. The Turkish Minister made unacceptable statements concerning Greece’s foreign policy in a meeting he had with FYROM’s Foreign Minister Nikola Poposki in Ankara.

Egemen Bagis said he hoped Greece would deal with its own economic problems, instead of dealing with Macedonia’s name, problems regarding the islands and barb wires across the border.

He advised Greece to mind its own business, and let things be when it comes to the Skopjan issue and the regular invasions of Turkish military aircrafts above Greek islands.

“We will support Greece in such a case (if it starts to deal with its economic problems),” Bagis said during his meeting with the Skopjan Minister in the Turkish capital city.

Egemen Bagis commented on the outcome of the Greek elections and the delay of the government formation saying that “everybody had to respect decision of the Greek people in the upcoming new elections.”

Bagis said his ministry decided to sign a cooperation agreement with Skopje to share the two countries’ experiences in EU negotiation process. He explained that Turkey and Skopje were aware that the reason for problems they were trying to overcome on the road to EU was prejudice, apparently pointing to Greece.

It appears that the two countries will form some kind of diplomatic alliance to fight against the “prejudice.”

Skopjan Poposki, in his part, said the EU is indispensable for the region where Turkey and Skopje are situated, and the EU integration process would become richer if it included Turkey and Skopje. The Skopjan foreign minister said it was not an easy path, but a path that would boost the welfare and peace in the Balkan region. Poposki also said everyone had to respect Greek election results.