ANKARA - Environment and Forestry Minister Osman Pepe left on Wednesday for Germany.
Prior to his departure, Pepe told reporters that he would join a two-day but busy program organized by the Turkey Studies Center (TAM) aiming to further improve cooperation in environment between Turkey and Germany.
Pepe said that he would hold bilateral meetings in Germany.
He was going to Germany to benefit from Germany's experiences in Turkey's environment programs on road to European Union (EU) membership, Pepe noted.
Pepe said, ''Germany companies, institutions and ministries have direct or indirect support to many environment projects in Turkey. We will hold meetings in Germany to increase this support.''
Turkey was aware of EU's sensitivity about environment policies, Pepe stated.
Pepe said that his ministry took into consideration EU's sensitivity.
Creating a green country was at top of issues to which EU attached importance, Pepe emphasized.
Pepe added, ''we will negotiate with German companies and experts how to put into practice environment projects worth of 30-40 billion Euro in 20 years.''
Environment and Forestry Minister Osman Pepe will meet with German Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Security Juergen Trittin, Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul, and Baerbel Hoehn, Minister of Environment and Social Affairs of State Northrhine-Westphalia.
Pepe is expected to return to Turkey on Friday.
(BRC-AÖ) 28.01.2004