ANKARA - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan left on Tuesday for the United States to attend G-8 summit and have several meetings.
Speaking to reporters at Ankara's Esenboga Airport, Erdogan said that Turkey was invited to G-8 summit as a partner which could support reforms desired to take place in the Middle East.
Erdogan noted, ''Turkey will attend G-8 summit meeting to be held in Sea Island on June 9, 2004 as a democratic partner. We are going to this summit upon invitation of the U.S. President.''
Stating that they would meet with leaders of G-8, European Union (EU), some Middle East and North African countries over a luncheon, he said that besides G-8 countries, Ireland, Germany, France, Britain, Italy, Bahrain, Yemen, Jordan, Afghanistan and Algeria would attend this meeting.
Erdogan said that how G-8 would support development of the Middle East region politically, economically and socially would be discussed. He noted that how Turkey would contribute to this effort would also be taken up in the summit. Erdogan stressed that countries would work on further development of cooperation between G-8, EU, Turkey and regional partners and stated that Turkey also shared target of supporting efforts for a positive change in the Middle East.
Stating that the aim was a more democratic, more prosperous and more stable Middle East living peacefully, he said that they have been explaining their views on this issue to regional and western countries for a while. He added that he would also explain those views in his meetings in the United States.
Erdogan underlined that Turkey was invited to G-8 summit meeting as a partner which could support efforts for reforms that were desired to take place in the region and noted that they would inform participants about contributions that Turkey could make to those efforts in the summit.
Stating that G-8 summit would be an important opportunity to discuss support that most developed countries would extend to Middle East countries' efforts for development and modernization, he said that it would be an important opportunity to talk about experiences of countries like Turkey which had deep democratic experience.
Erdogan said that he would also attend as honorary guest in meetings which would be held by Academy of Achievement in Chicago on June 11 and 12.
He noted that he would also attend a luncheon to be organized by American-Turkish Council in Chicago.
(EÖ-AÖ) 08.06.2004