Babacan: Turkey Is Closer To E.U. Criteria With Each Adjustment Package Adopted

ANKARA - State Minister Ali Babacan said on Monday that Turkey came closer to EU criteria with each adjustment package it adopted.
''Turkey's young and educated population will bring dynamism and richness to EU,'' said Babacan who attended the ''Hard Talk'' programme of British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).
Noting that the Turkish economy strengthened gradually, its debt stock decreased, inflation taken under control and interest rates decreased, Babacan said that the government had a strong political will about EU membership which no previous governments had.
The values of EU were universal values, he said adding that EU was not only a geographical, cultural or religious union. Turkey whose population was Muslim in majority and whose democracy worked well would bring new values to EU, Babacan said.
Upon a question about Iraq, State Minister Babacan said that formation of stability in Iraq as soon as possible was very important for Turkey.
Stressing that Turkey came the first in sending humanitarian aid to Iraq, Babacan said that approximately 2,000 lorries carried food and medical stuff to the region in one day.
''Iraq has to reach stability in the shortest time possible both in respect of Turkish economy and regional peace. Our aid to Iraq will continue,'' he said.
(ÖŞ-AY) 17.11.2003