ATHENS - Greek Prime Minister Costas Caramanlis said on Friday that he supported Turkey's efforts to adjust with the European Union (EU) acquis.
Caramanlis and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is paying an official visit to Greece, attended a luncheon hosted in their honor by Turkish-Greek Business Council.
Speaking in the meeting, Caramanlis stressed that Greece want good neighborly relations, strong cooperation and understanding and rapprochement between two nations.
Caramanlis said that it was time to look at the future and called on everybody to invest in development, progress and welfare.
He wanted development, progress and welfare not only for his people, but also for Greece's neighbor, Caramanlis noted.
Caramanlis stated that Greece had a strong economy in the Balkans.
Noting that there were many things to be done despite that strong economy, Caramanlis said that Greece continued its efforts rapidly.
Caramanlis pointed out that Greece was following Turkey's efforts to better its economic system.
Greece was respecting those efforts of Turkey, Caramanlis said.
Caramanlis said that those steps of Turkey were satisfactory and Turkey and Greece were also taking steps for bilateral cooperation.
Stressing that commercial cooperation between two countries had increased, Caramanlis said that trade volume between Turkey and Greece in 2003 which was recorded as 1.3 billion U.S. dollars was two times more than that of 1999.
Caramanlis noted that Greece had increased its activities in Turkish market.
Greek investors made 3.2 percent of overall foreign investments in Turkey, Caramanlis said.
Caramanlis stated that several agreements signed by two countries in recent years particularly the agreement on prevention of double taxation had contributed to further improvement of economic relations.
Drawing attention that two countries had cooperation opportunities in energy and oil transportation, Caramanlis emphasized that cooperation would increase Turkey's and Greece's role in their region.
Caramanlis stated that business world was beyond diplomacy in the new age.
Any progress in business world could pave the way for a better future and interests of Turkish and Greek peoples, Caramanlis added.
Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan went to Greece on Thursday evening for an official visit as the guest of Caramanlis.
Erdogan attended a ''family dinner'' hosted in his and his wife Emine Erdogan's honor by Caramanlis at Caramanlis' villa.
Greek Prime Minister Costas Caramanlis welcomed Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan with an official ceremony in Athens earlier in the day.
Caramanlis and Erdogan held a joint press conference following their meetings.
Erdogan was received by Greek President Costis Stephanopoulos and met with Greek Parliament Speaker Anna Psarouda-Benaki.
(BRC-AÖ) 07.05.2004