ISTANBUL - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, ''war strategies should rapidly leave their places to a human culture which covers peace, brotherhood and freedom.''
Erdogan delivered the keynote speech at the 8th International Business Forum Congress in Istanbul on Wednesday.
He said, ''participants of the forum are here not only to debate world trade but also to fulfill their responsibilities for peace.''
Stressing, ''elements that integrate societies are economy and trade,'' Erdogan said, ''integration is necessary for world nations to pursue a better and more prosperous life.''
''A world that shares economic potentials and cultural experiences generously is the only formula and is in the interest of everybody,'' added Erdogan.
On the other hand, the Independent Industrialists' & Businessmen's Association (MUSIAD) Chairman Omer Bolat said that if EU will give a start date for entry negotiations to Turkey in December, this would make closer Afro-Eurasia Region to EU.
Bolat stated, ''oil, natural gas, energy, pipelines and transportation corridors in the Islamic countries may and should be the keys of peace, stability and integration.''
Stating that countries in Afro-Eurasia Region should lift customs taxes, quotas, bank procedures and financial obstacles on trade, Bolat added that visa procedures should also be eased.
(GC-EÖ-ULG) 15.09.2004