JEDDAH - Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Sunday, ''I don't find right the understanding of Islamic Joint Market. Whatever happens, we will not base relations on ethnical and religious roots or geography.''
Erdogan attended Union of Turkish Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB)-Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK) Business Council lunch and addressed Turkish and Saudi Arabian businessmen.
Stating that Turkish-Saudi Arabian Business Council would be very beneficial in improvement of economic and trade relations, Erdogan said establishment of business councils were very positive.
Erdogan recalled a statement made by Dr. Mahathir Mohammad in which he said, 'If the Islam world is left behind, we are the reason of it', and noted that, ''this means Moslems are the reasons of it. As I stated today, we don't have confidence in each other, and we don't have solidarity. How will we improve relations if we do not have confidence in each other? We should take a different step.''
Erdogan said, ''I want to underline something, however I don't want to be misunderstood. I don't find right the understanding of Islam Joint Market. Whatever happens, we will not base relations on ethnical and religious roots or geography. There is nothing like this in economic relations. Polarization will begin in case we start to form the institutions like this. Relations may be cut. We may form union of countries jointly developing in economy and trade. There can be solidarity in this respect. This should be in direct proportion to globalization.
Erdogan said the 21st century would be the century of sharing, noting that those who could not comprehend the understanding of sharing would be outside of this.
Erdogan said, ''this is an understanding that suits us. Our nation shares everything with those who work. We are all the representatives of this mentality. Turkish-Saudi Arabian Business Council can be an example of this. Today nearly 200 businessmen accompany us. I expect Chairman of Saudi Arabian Chamber of Industry and Trade to bring Saudi Arabian businessmen to Turkey. Trade volume between the two countries is 1.3 billion U.S. dollars. This does not suit us. This is not the desired level.''
Erdogan said Saudi Arabian people could prefer Turkey in health services, stressing that Turkey has a strong basis and information in this respect.
Erdogan said there was private sector which transferred technology to Turkey, noting that such kind of steps should be taken in education, noting that, ''Turkey and Saudi Arabia should take important steps in defense industry sector. Food and textile are also important issues. There are many other issues in different branches of industry.''
(AY) 18.01.2004