TEHRAN - President Ahmet Necdet Sezer has said that sufficient progress could not be recorded in reaching goals of the Developing-Eight (D-8) and the visibility and functions of D-8 should be further consolidated.
Delivering a speech at the Fourth Summit Meeting of Heads of State and Government of D-8 in Tehran, Iran on Wednesday, President Sezer offered his condolences and expressed his sorrow over deaths in devastating earthquake in Bam city of Iran.
Sezer said that a much stronger mutual dependence was created among societies in parallel to globalization of the world economy and the swift development in information technologies in last decade. ''Globalization process offers new opportunities, but it also includes negativities that challenge us.''
Noting that efforts at last year's World Trade Organization multilateral summit meeting in Mexico to form a basic mechanism for liberalization of trade and globalization had failed, Sezer stressed that as a result of it, international and regional cooperation organizations had gained importance and come to the forefront as the complementary element of global integration. ''Thus, what we have to do is to soften negative effects of globalization and develop our cooperation to make use of new opportunities it offers.''
Stating that removal of difference between developed and developing countries in both economic and political fields was one of the assurances of peace in the world, Sezer said that different societies' knowing about each other, overcoming prejudgments and getting rid of prejudices and generalizations constituted the prior steps to be taken to reach this long-term target.
''Within this framework, it should be seen that those who resort to violence in the name of Islam do not represent Islam in order to have the West understand Moslem countries better. The thesis of a contrast between Islam and the West is a result reached by misleading deduction. There are persons in both sides who fell into this mistake.''
''With this respect, we attribute importance to the D-8 initiative which was initiated and maintained with the logic of real friendship, understanding and cooperation. On basis of the principles of 'peace instead of clash', 'dialogue instead of dispute', 'cooperation instead of exploitation', 'justice instead of double-standards', 'equality instead of discrimination' and 'democracy instead of pressure', the D-8 undoubtedly contributes to prosperity and well-being of our peoples,'' the President said.
President Sezer stressed that there were opportunities of establishing ties of a more comprehensive and productive cooperation within structure of the D-8 which has rich natural resources and more than 800 million population in three continents.
''However, it is also a reality that sufficient progress could not be recorded in achievement of purposes of the D-8. One of the reasons of it is that the foundation of the D-8 was laid seven years ago. The D-8 has fulfilled beneficial functions and provided several assets so far. All of us expect that visibility and functioning of the D-8 will be further consolidated, making a further contribution to prosperity of our countries. What we should actually do at this stage is to launch an initiative which aims to refresh our cooperation,'' he said.
Noting that they were aware that trade and investments among the D-8 countries should increase, Sezer said, ''liberalization of trade within the D-8 by gradually lifting tariff and non-tariff obstacles is one of our prior targets. Undoubtedly, dynamism of the private sector accelerates the activities of the D-8. Participation of the private sector in the activities of the D-8 is very important for achievement of our goals. We have to create an environment where private sector of our countries can cooperate. The second business forum held in Tehran between February 14-15 is an important step that encourages participation of private sector in activities of the D-8. The business forum will continue playing the pioneering role for an increase in trade among our countries.''
''Small and medium scale enterprises continue to be the core of economies. So cooperation among these enterprises has a special importance. The action plan about the small and medium scale enterprises which was approved at our third summit meeting was offered by Turkey which is the coordinator country in field of industry. We believe that role of these enterprises in our development efforts would increase with implementation of this program,'' the President said.
Noting that development of crop-duster airplanes was the prior project in field of industry, Sezer said that the first prototype of the crop-dusters was developed by the Turkish Aerospace Industries and flight tests were successful.
Sezer said they thought that they should altogether take necessary steps for mass production and try to create financial source and market.
Noting that Turkey attributed importance to D-8 plans developed in other fields like trade, communication and information, agriculture, banking-finance and privatization, development of human resources, rural development, energy, environment and decrease in poverty, Sezer said, ''we are pleased to see implementation of nearly fifty plans in cooperation fields since foundation of the organization as seminars, training programs and expert group meetings. Most of those plans have been implemented within framework of exchange of member states' experiences and technical information. Those studies constitute the basis of a further cooperation.''
''We believe that the D-8 would become one of the important groups of the world economy. I want to reiterate Turkey's loyalty to the purposes of the D-8 which were expressed in the Istanbul Statement. Turkey will continue expending every possible effort to reach the targets of the D-8,'' President Sezer added.
(MS-AÖ) 18.02.2004