Turkey's Gaziantep close to patenting the baklava, its trademark sweet and syrupy delight

ANKARA - Anadolu Agency

DHA Photo

The southern city of Gaziantep is close to receiving official international acknowledgment for its trademark baklava dessert, with the European Commission finally publishing the city’s application in the official gazette, bringing the town one step closer to finalizing the dessert’s patent.

The European Commission finally wrapped up its inspection four years after the application was first submitted by the southeastern town, following intense debates with the Greeks over the dessert’s ownership. The application has now been published in the Commission’s official gazette, launching the second part of the patent process, which will involve officials awaiting possible objections for the next three months before officially granting Antep baklava international fame.

If no objections arise, baklava will henceforth be known as Antep baklava, ending the eternal debate over the sugary treat.

Turkish EU Minister Egemen Bağış released a statement welcoming the commission’s move, describing the step as “overcoming an important threshold.”

Bagış said he had been following the issue closely, expressing his hope for a successful conclusion to the saga. “Hopefully, if no objections come from other countries, our Antep baklava will be patented and take its place on European tables as ‘Antep Baklava.’ Antep baklava is not only a richness of Gaziantep, but also of Turkey,” he said.

Europeans have already acquired a taste for baklava, Bağış added, also taking the opportunity to praise the home of the traditional Turkish treat, Gaziantep.

“Gaziantep is the best example and witness to how a city thrives when there is no terrorism, and when no terrorism is sheltered there,” Bağış said.

Turkey has been stepping up its efforts in matters of eatery and recognition of local tastes, with The Turkish Patent Institute (TPE) winning geographical indication rights for 147 local products from the European Union.

The disputed goods over which Turkey and its neighbors claim geographical indication rights include traditional desserts such as lokum, as well as the döner kebab, sucuk, tripe and trotter soups and rakı, the aniseed-based alcoholic drink. Both Turkey and Greece also claim rights on Hacivat and Karagöz, the shadow puppet characters.