BUCHAREST - Turkey and Romania could lay energy line beneath the sea, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday.
Erdogan and Romanian Prime Minister Adrian Nastase attended the meeting of Turkish-Romanian Business Council and addressed businessmen of the two countries in Romanian capital Bucharest.
In the meeting, Erdogan said that Turkey and Romania could lay natural gas pipelines beneath the sea and stated that this project was very important for transportation of Caspian and Caucasus natural gas to Europe.
Erdogan noted that Turkey attached importance to regular joint economic meetings with Romania.
Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan pointed out that Turkey had a serious experience in international contracting services and stated that Turkey could extend support to Romania thanks to its experience.
Erdogan said that Romania continued full membership negotiations with the European Union (EU) and wished that Romania would be an EU member in 2007, the foreseen date for its full membership.
Turkey expected the EU to start full membership negotiations with itself in December 2004, Erdogan stated.
Erdogan said, ''I know my distinguished friend Nastase will extend his support to our negotiation process.''
Addressing businessmen of the two countries, Erdogan said, ''today, economy rules politics not the visa versa. You have an important duty. This solidarity of yours will have a positive impact on solidarity of nations.''
Nastase, in his part, called on Turkish businessmen to invest in Romania and expressed belief that Turkish investments would increase after Thursday's meetings.
Commercial relations between Turkey and Romania should also be improved, Nastase stated.
Nastase thanked Turkey for its support to Romania's NATO membership and noted that Romania would extend support to Turkey's EU membership.
Stating that two countries could make joint projects in industry, Nastase said that Turkey and Romania could cooperate in ship, construction and defense industries.
Erdogan, who went to Romania earlier in the day, was welcomed by an official ceremony by Nastase.
Turkish and Romanian prime ministers held a tete-a-tete meeting and then presided meetings between the delegations.
Erdogan and Nastase later held a joint press conference.
Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan said that relations between Turkey and Romania would reach the future in a very different way after Turkey started accession talks with the EU.
In the press conference Romanian Prime Minister Nastase said that Romania would extend necessary support to Turkey's EU membership.
Erdogan was then received by Romanian President Ion Iliescu.
(BRC) 20.05.2004