ANKARA - Economic Affairs Minister Laurens Jan Brinkhorst of the Netherlands has said he had been asked whether or not Turkey was ready to the European Union (EU) during his meetings, adding, ''it is up to the Commission of Europe. However, I did not observe any negative thing about Turkey's EU membership in meetings I have had so far.''
Brinkhorst held a news conference in Hilton Hotel in Istanbul and gave information on his meetings in Ankara.
Brinkhorst said he had visited Turkish State Minister Kursad Tuzmen, Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul and Central Bank Governor Sureyya Serdengecti.
Brinkhorst said Turkey was a potential country of investments especially for Dutch businessmen as a result of its location as a country of transition particularly in field of energy.
Noting that reforms had been made during Turkey's EU membership process, Brinkhorst said that Turkey needed those reforms as a part of the global economy.
Stating that he was in Turkey also to closely observe whether or not those reforms were put into practice in Turkey, Brinkhorst said that he had had meetings on increase in imports and several problems related to customs union.
Noting that they had also discussed establishment of importer unions in Turkey, Brinkhorst said that he had stressed that there might be conflict of interests between Turkish and foreign businessmen who wanted to import goods to Turkey, adding that Turkey failed to draw sufficient foreign capital.
Stressing that Turkish and Dutch businessmen could make joint investments in third countries, Brinkhorst said that they could cooperate in Iraq under leadership of Turkish businessmen but stability should be settled in Iraq before it.
Replying to questions of reporters, Brinkhorst said he did not expect mass emigration wave following Turkey's accession to the EU.
(MS) 25.05.2004