ANKARA - Rifat Hisarciklioglu, the Chairman of Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB), hosted on Wednesday dinner in honor of Bulgarian Foreign Minister Solomon Pasi, who is paying an official visit to Turkey.
In the dinner, Hisarciklioglu said that Turkish officials got the impression during Pasi's meetings that economic relations between Turkey and Bulgaria would be further improved.
Hisarciklioglu wished that economic relations with Bulgaria would be further improved and thanked Pasi for his commitment that he would facilitate visa procedures for Turkish businessmen.
Pasi, in his part, said that it was the most suitable time to make business with Bulgaria.
The best period to trade with Bulgaria was the period starting as of today and continuing till January 1, 2007 when Bulgaria would join the European Union (EU), Pasi noted.
Pasi stated that those who would invest and take risks today would gain in the future.
Recalling that Erdogan would pay a visit to Bulgaria, Pasi stated that he was looking forward to see Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in his country soon.
Pasi noted that he would be in an effort to speed up bilateral relations till Erdogan's visit to Bulgaria.
Bulgarian Foreign Minister Solomon Pasi, who started his meetings in Ankara earlier in the day as the guest of Turkish Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul, held a joint press conference with Gul after their meeting.
In the press conference, Gul said improvement of relations between Bulgaria and Turkey made direct contribution to stability, economic development and prosperity of the Balkans. Bulgarian Foreign Minister Solomon Pasi, in his part, said that Bulgaria expended support to Turkey's European Union (EU) process.
Turkey and Bulgaria signed three agreements following Gul-Pasi meeting. These agreements envisage cooperation in search-and-rescue efforts in the Black Sea, cooperation in science, culture and education for the period of 2004 and 2006 and mutual 30-day visa exemption for service passports.
Pasi was received by Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and met with Turkish Deputy Parliament Speaker Yilmaz Ates and Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal.
(BRC) 26.05.2004