15.07.2016 Ankara

TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu along with the Turkey – EU Joint Arbitration Committee (JAC) members visited European Union Minister and Chief Negotiator Ömer Çelik.

Hisarcıklıoğlu congratulated Minister Çelik on his appointment and extended his well wishes. Stating that they have found opportunity to work together with Minister Çelik many times, Hisarcıklıoğlu expressed their confidence that he would serve his office fully.

Stating that they are ready to provide all support for Minister Çelik, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “We believe that he continues to be the most important anchor for Turkey’s EU membership process.  We are greatly pleased by the recent increase in momentum. It is very important to complete the visa lifting procedures. This will benefit the EU membership process greatly.”

Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that, “We are watching the negotiations in Cyprus closely; reaching a solution will contribute greatly to the Turkey-EU process.”

Urging the global community to condemn all terror attacks, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “We condemn the attack in Paris. We condemn all acts of terror. We will only succeed if we stand united against the attacks in Paris, Orlando, Brussels, Pakistan, İstanbul, Ankara and all over the world.

EU Minister and Chief Negotiator Ömer Çelik stated that Turkey fights terror to preserve its rule of law, democracy and peace. Stating that Turkey stands with the people if France in light of the recent attack in Nice, Çelik condemned the attack.

Also represented in the delegation in addition to TOBB were TESK, TÜRK-İŞ, TZOB, TİSK, MEMUR-SEN, TÜRKİYE KAMU-SEN and HAK-İŞ.