ANKARA - Robert Finch, Lord Mayor of the City of London, and accompanying high level financial delegation visited on Tuesday State Minister Ali Babacan.
Following the meeting, Babacan told reporters that they discussed the latest developments in Turkish economy and European Union (EU) process in the meeting and stated that Britain was a country which supported Turkey in its EU process.
Babacan said that they also took up details of economic developments and growth in Turkish economy and noted that investment atmosphere in Turkey changed rapidly and Turkey became an attractive country for foreign investment.
Babacan said that they informed the British delegation about 2004 goals and constructive reforms in the meeting.
Finch said that British government supported Turkey in its EU process, stressing that he brought the support of British government with him to Turkey. Stating that he hoped that a positive decision would be made on Turkey's EU membership in December, Finch said that Turkish economy administration took positive steps.
Upon a question on bomb attacks on HSBC in Istanbul, Finch said that they felt sad about attacks in Istanbul and added that he would pay a visit there when he went to Istanbul and they would see what problems were.
Finch said that HSBC did not decide to leave Turkey after bomb attacks and stated that he always encouraged people to visit Turkey. He added that he visited Mediterranean Region and Istanbul.
When asked whether or not a concrete investment project was brought onto the agenda in the meeting, Finch said that they discussed projects, noting that a special project was not taken up. He said that they discussed what kind of criteria British investors had.
(EÖ-AÖ) 17.02.2004