ANKARA - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan called on Turkish and Slovenian businessmen to invest mutually.
Erdogan and Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa held a joint press conference following their tete-a-tete meeting in Ankara on Wednesday.
Erdogan said Slovenia will take over the EU's rotating presidency in 2008 and stressed the importance of Jansa's visit to Turkey.
He noted that they discussed EU process, NATO and commercial relations between the two countries.
"Our bilateral trade volume is expected to reach 1 billion USD at the end of this year. We expect Turkish and Slovenian businessmen to invest mutually," he said.
Erdogan also said Turkey expects Slovenia, as the next EU president, to take necessary steps regarding Cyprus problem to settle it in line with United Nations' efforts.
On the other hand, Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa recalled that Turkey and Slovenia are allies in NATO, and thanked Turkey for its support to Slovenia's NATO and OECD memberships.
The cooperation between Turkey and Slovenia is developing rapidly, and there is a "big unused potential" between the two countries, Jansa said.
The cooperation in tourism, commerce, transportation and logistics areas should be further developed, Jansa said.
The Slovenian prime minister also stressed the importance of railway line between Turkey and Slovenia in the aspect of logistics.
Jansa said Erdogan and he discussed the EU presidency of Slovenia which will begin as of 2008.
Slovenia extends full support to enlargement of EU, and the reform agreement which will be signed in December is very important within that scope, Jansa said.
Jansa stated that the recent Progress Report of EU about Turkey was objective, and they believe Turkey will rapidly fulfill adjustment efforts.
Condemning terrorist PKK's acts in Turkey, Jansa offered condolences to relatives of victims.
Regarding Turkey's EU membership bid, Jansa promised support to Turkey while recalling that opening of chapter headings which have not been opened yet (in Turkey's accession talks) can only be possible with unanimity of EU members.
Meanwhile, prior to the press conference, related ministers of Turkey and Slovenia signed five agreements on agriculture, health, communication technologies, cooperation with Akdeniz University and employment for families of personnel having diplomatic passport.