PARIS - Omer Sabanci, the Chairman of the Association of Turkish Businessmen and Industrialists (TUSIAD) asked on Tuesday France's support for EU's starting full membership negotiations with Turkey.
TUSIAD's Paris Office was opened the same day in a ceremony in which State Minister Ali Babacan, French Minister of Economy, Finances, and Industry Francis Mer and Chairman of Association of French Industrialists and Businessmen (MEDEF- Mouvement des Entreprises de France) Antoine Seilliere participated.
Addressing the opening ceremony, Sabanci said that ''we firmly believe that France will appreciate the historical, strategic and political significance of helping Turkey join the EU.''
Sabanci stated that ''with the start of the negotiations early next year, we expect an influx of foreign direct investment. This should enhance the intensification of economic activities in our country. Our economic dynamism is helping the economies of neighbouring countries. We expect Armenia to soon join Syria, Iraq, Georgia, Russia, Iran and other regional countries as a viable trade partner of Turkey when the border is opened.''
''By the beginning of the next decade Turkey will be an energy corridor as gas and oil pipelines cross the country north to south and east to west. The EU would be one of the beneficiaries of such a development since these multiple pipelines will enable it diversify its sources of energy,'' Sabanci noted.
Referring to the historical and cultural bonds between Turkey and France in his speech, Sabanci also mentioned the importance of France in modernization period of Ottoman Empire noting that ''it was the philosophers of enlightenment, the literature and political thought of France that attracted the reformers in Ottoman Empire.''
''The Turkish Republic was designed in large measure after French political and administrative example. Kemal Ataturk's private library includes many well-thumped meticulously annotated works by French thinkers, notably Rousseau and Montesqieu,'' he said.
Sabanci said that the strong historical and intellectual bonds between the two countries gave Turkey the assurance that France would understand Turkey's aspirations about EU membership.
TUSIAD Chairman said that important steps were taken in Turkey during the last two years to meet Copenhagen criteria and remarked that the economic system was being restructured.
Referring to the devastating economic crisis of 2001, Sabanci said that ''with the guidance of a program supported by the IMF, and then admirably managed by State Minister Babacan we have finally reached calm waters. From now on the Maastricht criteria and the Lisbon Strategy of the European Union are also our main guidelines.''
''As of this month, the rate of inflation dropped to single digit levels. Growth has been restored to the economy even if employment figures have not yet caught up with the rebound. Interest rates are at their lowest since a quarter century ago and budgetary discipline has been mostly restored. Turkish companies are emerging as world-class competitors in sophisticated industrial products,'' he said.
Sabanci stated that he believed that Turkey would reach its goals in privatization and administrative reforms, adding that TUSIAD aimed to bring Turkey's economy to the standards of most competitive countries in terms of its technological sophistication.
Sabanci noted that TUSIAD worked hard and long for Turkey's democratization, adding that TUSIAD was the watchdog of the reform process.
''What we ask from our partners in the EU is encouragement and a fair assessment when December arrives. Turkey is ready for the process of negotiations, which we know will take several years to successfully conclude. By that European Council, Turkey will have done its part in securing a Cyprus resolution. We hope that our Greek counterparts, particularly in the island, will do the same,'' Sabanci said.
''September 11 and the conduct of the war against Iraq led all of us to a reassessment of Transatlantic relations,'' he said adding that Turkey would continue to play an important role strategically in the new world order.
''We all have a common interest in not allowing a so-called clash of civilizations. Just as much we have a common interest in stabilizing the Middle East and assure the emergence of a secular, representative political order in that critical region. I am sure you share my view that such a task would be almost impossible without Turkey's participation and contribution. Developments of the past year and a half particularly the context of the Iraq war have highlighted the commonality of interests for Turkey and the EU. We should work to deepen our dialogue and understanding. And this can only be achieved as our partnership evolves to full membership in an EU that becomes a full player in world politics just as France desires,'' he added.
(Öª) 09.03.2004