SEZER: ''WE REACHED CONSENSUS TO DEVELOP COOPERATION''
BUCHAREST - Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, on an official visit to Romania, said on Thursday that he and Romanian President Ion Iliescu reached consensus over to promote existing cooperation in bilateral, regional and international issues.
Following their tete-a-tete Sezer and Iliescu chaired meetings between their respective delegations. Later, they held a joint press conference in which Sezer noted that bilateral relations and cooperation were significantly developed between the two countries during the last 15 years.
There was not any political problem between Turkey and Romania, Sezer stressed.
Noting that economic and commercial relations were at a very good level, Sezer said that Turkey was the biggest trade partner of Romania in the region. He stated that trade volume was increased to nearly 2 billion U.S. dollars last year.
According to official data, Turkish businessmen's investments in Romania amounted to 418 million U.S. dollars, he noted.
Underlining that Turkey was very pleased over Romania's participation in NATO Summit held in Istanbul on June 28th and 29th, 2004, Sezer said, ''I believe that we, as two allied countries, would maintain the solidarity and close contacts, contributing this way to the safeguard of global and regional peace and stability.''
President Sezer stressed that his visit also helped to boost bilateral relations that had roots deep in history. Recalling that Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan had given Romanian Prime Minister Adrian Nestase a replica of King Stefan of Romania's sword, which is currently exhibited at the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul, during his visit to Romania last May, Sezer said that the sword would now be exhibited temporarily at the National Arts Museum in Romania.
''It is an expression of Turkey's willingness to contribute to commemoration ceremonies in the 500th anniversary of demise of King Stefan'', Sezer said in the press conference and explained that the exhibition in Romania would open on Friday.
Meanwhile, sources said that during his meeting with Romanian President Iliescu, President Sezer expressed his pleasure seeing Romania as a NATO ally. -CYPRUS ISSUE-
Sezer also briefed Iliescu on the latest developments on the Cyprus issue and asked for the support of Romania which is a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, for the lifting of restrictions and embargoes imposed on the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), sources said.
They added that the two leaders also discussed terrorist organization PKK/Kongra-Gel issue. President Sezer said that PKK carried out activities in Romania form time to time and asked that Romania took necessary measures against such activities.
Sources added that the two leaders decided to initiate efforts to open a Turkish Culture Center in Bucharest, recalling that a Romanian Culture Center was already opened in Istanbul.
ILIESCU: 2004 WILL BE TURKEY YEAR FOR ROMANIAN ECONOMY
Describing bilateral relations as ''brilliant'', Iliescu said Sezer's visit to Romania was a follow-up of ''high level dialogue'' between the two countries.
Iliescu said new fields of cooperation were probed in their bilateral meetings with Sezer.
He expressed his appreciation for the successful organization of NATO Istanbul Summit, stating that important decisions were taken about NATO's future.
Iliescu said NATO member Romania wanted to join forces with Turkey and other member countries to contribute to the strengthening of the Alliance in north of the Balkans and the Black Sea.
He added Romania's full membership to NATO enhanced the cooperation between the two countries, stressing that it also contributed to the security and stability in the region.
Iliescu said they also had the opportunity with Sezer to discuss the situation in Europe.
Romanian President said they ''hailed'' the legal reforms in Turkey, stating that this would contribute to Turkey's bid to meet Copenhagen criteria.
Iraq, Cyprus question, and other regional issues were also discussed at the meeting, Iliescu said.
Pointing to the importance of economic relations between the two countries, Iliescu said they call 2004 as ''Turkey year'' for Romanian economy and stressed that the volume of bilateral trade between the two countries would reach 2.5 billion U.S. dollars in 2004.
Iliescu said he and Sezer discussed cultural relations like establishment of a Romanian university in Turkey.
''International terrorism, non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, drug and human trafficking were also discussed at the meeting,'' Iliescu noted.
Iliescu said relations between Turkey and Romania constituted an example for ''good neighborhood''.
(AY-ULG) 08.07.2004