BRUSSELS - Environment Minister Kursad Tuzmen said on Tuesday that some difficulties of Turkey which had exerted efforts for the European Union (EU) market and spent years, should be rapidly solved.
Tuzmen, who was currently in Brussels to attend a conference held by EU, held bilateral contacts.
Noting that they examined trade relations with Mexican Economy and Trade Minister Fernando Canales, Tuzmen said that Turkey wanted to sign Free Trade Agreement with Mexico. He added that studies would start in June and bilateral contacts would be held in October.
Informing the press, Tuzmen referred to his meeting with Tunisian Trade Minister Mondher Zenaidi and said, ''trade relations with Tunisia have not reached to desired level, trade volume is decreasing. We examined the reasons of this and why bilateral investments cannot be refreshed. The necessity to sign a free trade agreement came onto agenda. They are concerned with opening their markets to a country like Turkey and think that their firms will be harmed. We should comfort them. We will discuss agreement issue by forming a discussion base on level of firms and ministers in May.''
Tuzmen, while informing about his meeting with EU commissioner responsible for trade Pascal Lamy, said that they expressed the benefits of Customs Union between Turkey and EU and some difficulties during the meeting.
Noting that they exchanged views for forming an agreement protocol for Turkey with the countries which EU had made agreements, Tuzmen said, ''we explained the progress of Turkey for accession to EU. We expressed problems in entering to EU markets with Turkish goods and third world countries markets which EU made agreements. We emphasized the necessity of mutual studies to eliminate the injustice with which our firms faced. Lamy approached positively, but we desire some things to happen more rapidly. We gave him our study which includes the reasons why trade with EU cannot reach to desired level although it has to increase.''
Tuzmen said, ''our aim is to grow our economy with a partner like EU. We make nearly 53 percent of our trade with EU. Many problems will be solved when national income per capita reaches five thousand dollars in Turkey. Turkey has made important progress after Customs Union process, but we think that we can reach better points.''
''EU membership is a tool for us. Our aim is either to make Turkey a member of EU or to provide life standards which EU citizens have. These are not different things. We have exerted serious efforts for this market, we have spent our years. We do not want to face with some problems. There are some anti-dumping complaints. We have some difficulties with third world countries. These should be eliminated,'' noted Tuzmen.
Noting that the things which would be experienced in a process in which Europe pulled customs taxes down and the opening of EU market, which Turkey had been exerted effort for years, to other countries were important issues, Tuzmen said, ''I told them that Turkey's gains should be more. I said that some injustices were made especially in trade agreements with other countries and that we have to take place in EU decision mechanism. It is known that there is injustice. I think that Turkey should act more comfortably and we express this.''
(GC-AÖ) 06.05.2003