Erdogan: Turkey Will Get Membership Date In December 2004

VIENNA - Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday that he believed that Turkey would get European Union (EU) membership date in December 2004.
Erdogan and Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel attended the meeting of Austrian Federal Chamber of Economy.
Speaking in the meeting, Erdogan said that commercial and economic relations between Turkey and Austria had increased recently.
Erdogan expressed pleasure with trade volume between the two countries around 1 billion U.S. dollars as of 2002 but stated that it was not sufficient.
Turkey was ranked the 22nd in Austria's imports and 23rd in Austria's exports, Erdogan said.
Erdogan stated that concerted efforts should be exerted to further improve commercial and economic relations when the rooted historical relations between Turkey and Austria, the mutual will to further improve the relations, and existence of almost 200 thousand Turkish citizens in Austria were taken into consideration.
Noting that Austria was an EU member, Erdogan said that Turkey would become EU member soon.
Erdogan recalled that there was customs union agreement between Turkey and EU for over seven years.
Austria supported Turkey before and after Copenhagen Summit and during the Thessaloniki Summit, Erdogan stated.
Erdogan noted that he believed that Turkey would get a membership date from the EU in December 2004.
Turkish citizens living in Austria existed in that country as only labor force in the past, Erdogan said. But, he stated, they became employers today.
Erdogan said that Turkey and Austria were very close to each other and that goods from Turkey to West Europe and from West Europe to Turkey passed through the two countries.
There was a wide region in the east of Austria and west of Turkey which strongly needed every kind of economic interest particularly foreign investment and which aimed to join the European family, Erdogan said.
Erdogan noted that as Turkish and Austrian governments, they were ready to help business circles which wanted to make investments and have business deals in two countries.
Former agreements had to be renewed, Erdogan said.
Erdogan emphasized that Turkey, which would become EU full member in the future, had a stable growth rate.
Turkey recorded a growth rate of 7.4 percent in the first quarter of this year, Erdogan said.
Erdogan stated that thus, Turkey became the second country following China.
Noting that there were significant projects which would attract Austrian businessmen in Turkey, Erdogan said that Austria had undertaken an important role in energy projects of Turkey.
Erdogan pointed out that investments between two countries should not be limited with only energy and that two countries could also make joint investments in textile, agriculture, electronics and construction.
''Oil and natural gas come at the top of the most important economic goods of the 21st century. Turkey is a key country in transportation of oil and natural gas of Caspian Sea and Central Asia. Especially, millions of barrels of oil and millions of cubic meters of natural gas will be sent to Europe by Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan project every year. When we consider the geographical location, we see that Austria is a very important transition country in transportation of oil and natural gas to West Europe. This issue creates a very important and fruitful cooperation field. I know that BOTAS and its Austrian interlocutor OMV continue contacts regularly. We shouldn't neglect this field,'' Erdogan said.
Erdogan noted, ''we know that Austria is an important investor in the Balkans and the biggest foreign investor in some Balkan countries. Also, Turkey has some significant investments in the Balkans. Turkey is a leading country in foreign investments aiming at this region.''
Investments of Turkey and Austria had complementary characteristics, Erdogan stated.
Erdogan said, ''that is, we are not rivals, we are partners. We are able to find and carry out joint investment projects in the Balkans, Caucasia, and even Central Asian countries.''
He had no doubts that successful and productive entrepreneurs of the two countries could also be successful in projects in third countries, Erdogan added.
Schussel, in his party, said that there had been conflicts between Turkey and Austria in former centuries but that the two countries were friends now.
Austrian Chancellor suggested Turks to come to Austria in the winter and Austrians to go to Turkey in the summer.
Schussel said that he visited Turkey as student for holiday in the past and later as a minister and chancellor, adding that he knew much about Turkey.
He closely followed results of general election in Turkey held on November 3, 2002, Schussel noted.
Schussel stated that they were very pleased with the sixth and seventh EU adjustment packages.
''It is impossible for people who follow you not to admire you. The EU will give you an honest response,'' Schussel said.
Schussel stated that Turkey wanted to join the EU and that there were circles in the EU which wanted Turkey's membership.
''Turkey is a country heading Europe. And, countries should be honest to each other in their friendship,'' Schussel said.
Schussel added that Austria would do its best for Turkey's EU accession.
Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) Chairman Rifat Hisarciklioglu said that governments of the two countries would lay the necessary groundwork for cooperation.
Hisarciklioglu stated that relations, especially relations in field of tourism, should be improved.
Austrian Chamber of Economy Deputy Chairman Richard Schenz said that almost 380 thousand Austrians spent holiday in Turkey every year.
Expressing belief that visit of Prime Minister Erdogan would promote bilateral relations, Schenz said that many Austrian businessmen were investing in Turkey.
(BRC) 11.07.2003