BERLIN - Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD) Executive Board Chairman Pekin Baran said on Thursday that a TUSIAD delegation headed by himself was paying a visit to German capital Berlin in order to be in dialogue with German politicians in a critical process in which Turkey aimed at European Union (EU) membership.
Baran and accompanying delegation met with members of German-Turkish Parliamentary Group, namely Thomas Kossendey, Hermann Kues and Willi Zylajew at lunch.
TUSIAD delegation later met with Christian Democrat Union (CDU) Secretary General Laurenz Meyer and former German Defense Minister Volker Ruehe.
Baran told reporters following their meetings that CDU was an important political power in both Germany and the European Parliament (EP).
There were not only politicians in CDU who were in favor of Turkey's EU membership, but also politicians who were against it, Baran pointed out.
Baran said that TUSIAD delegation wanted to receive information taking into consideration the visit that CDU leader Angela Merkel would pay to Turkey at the weekend.
He got an impression out of his meetings that CDU politicians were aware that they could not prevent Turkey's membership, Baran noted.
Baran said that it was natural to have some difference of opinion on an important issue like Turkey's EU membership and quoted Meyer as saying that they were open to dialogue and ready to solve problems together.
TUSIAD delegation will meet with former CDU Secretary General Ruprecht Polenz and Prime Minister Roland Koch of Hessen State on Friday.
(BRC-AÖ) 12.02.2004