BY MEHMET OCAKTAN
YENI SAFAK- Turkey on one hand is in an election year and on the other is seeking an active process in its relations with the European Union. State Minister for the Economy and chief negotiator Ali Babacan yesterday started a tour of Europe.
In a joint meeting of the French Assembly of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ACFCI) and the Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodities Exchanges (TOBB), Turkey's ties with both France and the EU were taken up. TOBB head Rifat Hisarciklioglu, ACFCI head Jean-Francois Bernardin and Babacan all delivered speeches to the gathering.
The government hopes to accelerate its reforms for Turkey's EU bid without being overcome by sluggishness due to the fall elections. Babacan said that they see EU membership as a strategic goal and that they will declare a new EU plan next month. "We can't wait for all 27 EU member states to approve every chapter." he said. "We're going to introduce a seven-year plan in April which will set our goals for every year." He added that the government had made important reforms -- including eight harmonization packages, with the ninth one now before Parliament -- and that Turkey has become a stronger country with a stronger economy. Lamenting how the EU's recent attitudes made the Turkish public lose hope and support the EU process less, he said despite this they would continue the reform process. Babacan also underlined that Turkey's accession would not only be in the EU's interest in terms of its security and strategic importance but would also have a global impact.
Hisarciklioglu touched upon relations between France and Turkey. Citing France's declaration that 2009 is the Year of Turkey, he said that they should ensure that Turkey is presented in a realistic way. He also urged French investments in Turkey, especially in the energy sector.
The head of the ACFCI expressed self-criticism in a range of fields from relations between the two countries to the last fall's law on the so-called Armenian genocide, but was hopeful about the future of relations. He said that these problems can be solved through dialogue and that he believes good economic relations would certainly affect the course of political relations.