Guclu Says Turkey To Lay Necessary Groundwork To Assure Food Security

AMSTERDAM - Turkey would lay the necessary groundwork to assure food security, Sami Guclu, Turkish Agriculture & Rural Affairs Minister said on Tuesday.
At the end of the informal meeting of agriculture ministers of the European Union (EU) member and candidate countries held in Noordwijk, the Netherlands, Guclu told reporters that matters discussed and views expressed in the meeting demonstrated the necessity of adjusting food quality and standards with EU standards.
Guclu said that there were disparities between EU member and developing countries as well as between countries aspiring to become a EU member, in assuring food security and standards, organizing and training farmers. He stressed that EU member countries should support other countries so they reach those standards.
Noting that Turkey cooperate with the Netherlands in agriculture, Guclu said that the Netherlands had made significant investments in this area in Turkey. Guclu said that Turkey had soil, water and climatic advantages in return for capital, personnel and technological facilities of the Netherlands.
He indicated that he met his Polish, Hungarian and Romanian counterparts, and told them that Turkey is eager to make use of experiences of those countries in the EU membership process. Polish, Hungarian and Romanian agriculture ministers welcomed his offer, Guclu noted.
Agriculture Minister Guclu will return to Turkey in the evening.
(BRC-ULG) 07.09.2004