Turkey is now well aware of its power: Turkey's EU min.

HAMM

Turkey's European Union Minister and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis said on Saturday that Turkey emphatizes with the feelings and troubles of Turkish Germans so as to protect its kins wherever in the world they live.

Delivering a speech at the opening ceremony of the Union of European Turkish Democrats (UETD) Hamm Branch, Bagis referred to the hard times the first flow of Turkish citizens into Germany went through and stated that Turks living in Germany are not only workers, but now there are also politicians, journalists, football players, lawyers in the Turkish community in Germany. 

"Our hopes for tomorrow is rising. In the perception of a Turkey that claims and protects its kins wherever in the world they live, we emphatize with your feelings and troubles," he said.

Citing the remarks of the EP Turkey rapporteur saying "Turkey will determine Europe's future," Bagis asserted that Turkey is now well aware of its power and influence.

"We will grow stronger as we produce more and will never see someone showing us the door," he added, praising the efforts and resolution of UETD especially in terms of the dual citizenship issue, included in the program of newly-set coalition in Germany.

Noting that they would sign the roadmap of the visa exemption agreement before Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday, Turkey's EU Chief detailed that there would be two documents to sign, one is the roadmap protocol of the free movement in the EU for Turkish people while the other is the readmission agreement.

"I hope all Turkish citizens will be able to travel to the 28 countries within the Schengen in 3-3.5 years," Bagis also said.

As part of his talks in Hamm city, Bagis also met the Mayor of Hamm Thomas Hunsteger-Petermann and attended the dinner held in his honour.

englishnews@aa.com.tr