ANKARA - Ukrainian Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych said on Tuesday that Ukraine and Turkey should sign Free Trade Agreement (FTA) as soon as possible. Yanukovych, who came to Turkey to hold meetings, received State Minister Kursad Tuzmen at Ankara's Hilton Hotel.
Tuzmen noted that Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Yanukovych determined a 3 billion U.S. dollars of target for trade volume between the two countries during their meeting and stated that as state minister for foreign trade, he would do his utmost to reach this target.
Stating that Turkey and Ukraine were countries which had complementary economies, he said, ''Ukraine has goods and services that we need. Turkey also has goods and services that Ukraine needs. We are carrying out very important activities to further improve trade with our neighbors.''
Tuzmen added that foreign trade volume between Turkey and Ukraine should be further increased.
Yanukovych said that it was very important for Ukraine and Turkey to sign a FTA and stated that the agreement would further improve economic relations between the two countries.
Stating that he would have a meeting on this issue with Turkey-Ukraine Joint Economic Commission (JEC) co-chairman, Yanukovych said that he would encourage co-chairman to carry out activities with Turkey on the issue.
Yanukovych asked Tuzmen to determine factors preventing trade agreement and stated that if co-chairmen completed studies on this agreement, Erdogan and he would be glad. Yanukovych said that they could sign the agreement in April and stated that it was a political decision, but it should be taken as soon as possible.
Noting that there were FTAs with almost all countries which would join the European Union (EU) in May, Yanukovych said that he was sure that signing such an agreement would also help Turkey be a member of the EU. Yanukovych added that this agreement would make stronger the two countries.
(EÖ-AÖ) 02.12.2003