BERLIN - Honourary Chairman of Association of Turkish Businessmen and Industrialists (TUSIAD) Bulent Eczacibasi said on Wednesday that certain misassessments were made about Turkey's EU membership in Germany.
TUSIAD delegation headed by Eczacibasi met with German Minister of the Interior Otto Schily in Berlin the same day.
Speaking after the meeting, Eczacibasi said that Germany continued to play a leading role in supporting Turkey's EU bid.
Expressing his hope of other parties in Germany and other European countries to support Turkey's EU membership, Eczacibasi said that ''some misassessments are being made about Turkey's EU membership in Germany, some inaccurate figures are put forward.'' Eczacibasi said that there was an impression as if migration to Europe would intensify in case of Turkey's membership to EU, adding that ''Turkey's EU membership will strengthen the economy. Turkey wants to become a member of EU to integrate with the West. Turkey and EU will form a big strategic power. For that reason, we want Germany to continue exerting efforts for persuading other countries... Mr. Schily believes that Turkey's membership is very important for the future of Europe.''
''What will happen if EU does not start membership negotiations with Turkey?'' asked journalists to Eczacibasi who said that ''we will continue our relations with EU institutions on a sound basis.''
(Öª-AÖ) 10.03.2004