ISTANBUL - The Istanbul Chamber of Industry (ISO) signed cooperation protocol on Monday with the Cologne and Lyon chambers of industry and commerce to develop joint projects in several fields.
ISO Executive Board Chairman Tanil Kucuk said that Turkey had been following a quite determined and constructive stance towards fulfillment of all its commitments about political criteria including the Cyprus issue.
Noting that Europe's test of sincerity would start after Turkey fulfilled its duties, Kucuk said, ''after we overcome our remaining deficiencies in next few months, we expect the European Union to display its sincerity by shedding green light to Turkey in December.''
Stressing that a future that would be formed jointly by Turkey and the EU would increase prosperity in the European continent and increase the EU's contribution to the peace in the world, Kucuk said that Turkey's final and sole target was full membership towards which it would advance with determination.
Noting that the Turkish private sector constituted the most important dynamism of EU membership process, Kucuk stressed that several sectors had already harmonized themselves with competitive conditions of the European market and Turkish industry was ready to the EU.
Stressing that cooperation protocol signed with the Cologne and Lyon chambers of industry and commerce would accelerate ISO members' efforts on adjustment into European single market, Kucuk said, ''we accept the cooperation with two leading chambers in Europe as reflection of Turkey's EU membership today.''
Noting that entrepreneurs of Turkey which had Customs Union deal with the EU always faced visa obstacle, preventing them from trading on equal and fair competition conditions, Kucuk said, ''as the Turkish industrialists, we believe that Turkish entrepreneurs who are employers should be granted at least the free movement right in the EU.''
Meanwhile, Cologne Chamber of Industry and Commerce Chairman Alfred Freiherr von Oppenheim said that Turkey was a very important and swiftly emerging market.
Meanwhile, Lyon Chamber of Industry and Commerce Executive Board Chairman Jean Agnes said that Turkey was a very important market for France.
Recalled of French President Jacques Chirac's statement about Turkey's EU membership a few days ago, Agnes said that he did not represent the French government but most of the employers in France supported Turkey's EU membership.
Meanwhile, French Consul General in Istanbul Jean Christophe Peaucelle defended that some Turkish newspapers had not reflected the issue correctly.
France supported Commission of Europe's report that it would present at the end of 2004 and the French government did not want to cause prejudices, he said and noted that Turkey's EU membership would happen under the Copenhagen criteria.
The protocol envisages enhancement of cooperation in automotive by-industry and vocational training and among European information centers.
(MS-AY) 03.05.2004