ANKARA - U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Robert Pearson said on Monday that any delay in loan to be given to Turkey by the United States was out of question.
Pearson paid a farewell visit to Rifat Hisarciklioglu, the Chairman of Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB).
Following the meeting, Pearson told reporters that very important developments had been recorded in Turkey's economy in three years when his mission continued.
Pearson said that production increased, inflation rate decreased, reforms were made in banking sector.
Efforts would be continued to create new economic opportunities between the two countries, Pearson noted.
Replying to questions of reporters regarding claims that 8.5 billion U.S. dollars of loan or 1 billion U.S. dollars in grant to Turkey would be delayed, Pearson said that they presented a draft agreement on the issue to Turkey.
Noting that the Turkish team had only a matter of timing, Pearson said that they would decide when the team would be formed and go to the United States.
Pearson stated that detailed talks would be held later and a delay was out of question.
Upon a question on qualified industrial zones, Pearson said that a strong base started to be formed regarding the issue.
Pearson noted that the base was related with growth and that Turkish people expected a more stable rise in growth rate.
Stating that increase in production could create new investment opportunities for U.S. companies, Pearson hoped that an increasing employment would be created in the long term.
Replying to a question about developments regarding detention of 11 Turkish soldiers in Iraq, Pearson said that military commission would complete their work and make a detailed statement and did not comment on the issue.
Hisarciklioglu, in his part, said that they took up economic relations between Turkey and the United States.
Replying to a question about qualified industrial zones, Hisarciklioglu said that a compromise was reached on meeting of Economic Partnership Commission in Turkey in October during Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal's visit to Washington.
Hisarciklioglu emphasized that one of the issues on agenda of that commission would be qualified industrial zones.
Proposing formation of a technical committee prior to that meeting, Hisarciklioglu said that TOBB was ready to make every contribution.
Hisarciklioglu said that they did not approve the current shape of qualified industrial zones and emphasized that a zone should cover all industrial products to become a qualified industrial zone.
Asked if a new deliberation would take place in the meeting to be held in October, Hisarciklioglu guessed that new conditions would come onto agenda in October.
When asked how current problems would be overcome in Turkish-U.S. relations, Hisarciklioglu said that problems were experienced in current relations due to deficiencies in economy.
Hisarciklioglu pointed out that problems occurred when economic relations slowed down in 60-year relations.
''If the United States needs Turkey, it should further improve its economic relations. This is also valid for us,'' Hisarciklioglu said.
Upon a question about situation of Turkish companies in Afghanistan, Hisarciklioglu said that Turkish companies continued to work there.
Referring to situation of Turkish companies in Iraq, Hisarciklioglu said, ''the United States knows that Turkey can meet urgent needs of Iraq under most appropriate conditions because our historical ties, friendship and geography is suitable for this.''
(BRC) 14.07.2003