STRASBOURG - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan addressing Turkish citizens in Strasbourg said, ''you should not fear of integration. But, no to assimilation.''
''We have some problems. We (the current government) started to serve for Turkey on November 3rd. We reached a very different position now. We have developed day by day. We are better now than before. Tomorrow will be better than today,'' he noted.
Stating that when Justice and Development Party (AK Party) came to the political power, Turkey had many debts, Erdogan recalled that Turkey paid 42 billion U.S. dollars of interest in 2003.
''Interest rate that we repaid for domestic debt had been 69 percent. This figure was reduced to 23-24 percent now,'' he noted, stating that inflation rate had been 34 percent. Erdogan added that they expected that inflation rate would be lower than 12 percent at the end of this year.
Noting that growth rate of Turkey was 13.4 in the first six months of 2004, Erdogan said that this rate became 5.9 percent last year. ''Turkish private sector's investments reached to 20 billion U.S. dollars at the end of July. Our entrepreneurs started to invest after Turkey reached atmosphere of confidence and stability,'' Erdogan stated.
Erdogan said that 1.8 billion U.S. dollars of foreign capital has entered the country till the end of July, since there was a stable Turkey now. He added that they expected foreign capital to amount to 2.8 billion U.S. dollars next year.
He stressed that there was also a great development in tourism sector.

-TURKISH CITIZENS LIVING IN FRANCE-

Erdogan said that 400,000 Turkish citizens were living in France, stating, ''some of them do not want dual citizenship. It is wrong.''
''You (Turkish citizens) should have a place in French social and political life. You should be brave. This is the most natural right for you. You should not fear of integration. But, no to assimilation,'' he stressed.
Erdogan asked Turkish citizens to explain Turkey's customs and traditions to French people.
''We have a challenging journey now. December 17 is the date when negotiation process will be approved. All of you are our ambassadors in this country,'' he added.
Stating that Turkish Republic made necessary amendments so far, Erdogan said that they were also determined to fulfill what will be necessary from now on. ''We have a parliament and government which are ready for it. NGOs also support us. 75 percent of Turkey is ready to join the EU,'' he added.
(EÖ-AÖ) 06.10.2004