NEW YORK - Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul has said that economic figures in Turkey were promising.
Gul, who is currently in New York to participate in U.N. General Assembly meetings, delivered a speech in a meeting held by the American Turkish Society (ATS).
Stating that they had recorded significant reforms in economic and political fields in a period shorter than a year, Gul said that they targeted a more advanced democracy, a transparent administration and a developed civil society.
Gul said that Turkish government's determination in providing economic stability and continuation of its reform efforts was yielding positive results.
Noting that after the fifth review with IMF was completed, economic figures in Turkey were considered promising, Gul said that economy grew 7 percent in the first quarter of the year. Gul added that they targeted to decrease inflation rate lower than 20 percent this year.
Gul said that Turkey was carrying out important reforms in public sector, budget, agriculture and social security fields and added that those things would contribute to efforts for re-structuring of Turkish economy.
Stating that Turkey was providing foreign investors with special opportunities now, he said that big state organizations like Tekel and Tupras would be put into the list of sale and Telekom and Turkish Airlines would be included in the privatization plans this year.
Gul said that Turkey had determination to start full membership negotiations with the EU at the end of 2004 and stated that full membership was not only important for EU and Turkey, but also for the United States and Transatlantic relations. Gul thanked the United States for its support to Turkey on that path.
Noting that sound relations between the United States and Turkey were strengthening with new cooperations including fight against terrorism, Gul stressed that Turkish government had allowed the United States to use Turkish airspace during the Iraq operation.
Gul said that transition period in Iraq should reach success on the basis of targets which would be determined by the U.S. government and U.N. Security Council and stated that Turkish government did what should be done to reach those targets and it would continue to do so.
Gul stressed that Turkish government had also similar determination to solve problems regarding Cyprus, Caucasus and the Middle East.
Stating that they targeted Turkish-American relations to bring to a higher level than political and military level, he said that Turkey and the United States launched initiatives for joint investments in energy field, Afghanistan, Iraq and the Central Asia.
Gul said that Turkey was a big potential in efforts for reconstruction of Iraq.
(EÖ-AÖ) 23.09.2003