ISTANBUL - Environment and Forestry Minister Osman Pepe said on Friday that Germany supported many environment projects in Turkey through financial institutions.
Pepe, who returned from Germany to Turkey, told reporters that he met with German Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation, and Nuclear Security Juergen Trittin, German Economic Cooperation and Development Minister Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul, Baerbel Hoehn, Minister of Environment and Social Affairs of State North Rhine-Westphalia and Leon Macioszek, the Director of Department for Europe and Asia of KfW Group which provided financial support to environment projects in Turkey during his visit to Germany.
Defining his visit as very fruitful, Pepe said that municipalities in Turkey had difficulties in providing finance for environment policies.
Pepe noted that therefore, Turkey could not take further steps in environmentally-vital issues.
Environment and Forestry Minister Pepe quoted KfW officials as saying that 25-30 million Euro of finance had been provided for environment projects in Turkey and as noting that the amount could be increased to 100-200 Euro annually.
If Turkey had the chance to provide that loan, it would have the opportunity to solve garbage and waste water problem of all cities within five years, Pepe said.
Pepe stated that Germany was very sincere in Turkey's European Union (EU) full membership process.
Turkey should make 30-40 billion Euro investments within the following 15-20 years in order to comply with EU norms in environment, Pepe added.
Pepe had gone to Germany on Wednesday for an official visit.
(BRC) 30.01.2004