Babacan: Reforms In Turkey Are Perceived Positively By EU

FRANKFURT - ``Reforms in Turkey were perceived positively by the European Union (EU),`` Turkish State Minister Ali Babacan said on Friday.
Babacan attended a meeting titled, ``Turkey`s Adjustment to the EU``, jointly held by Association of Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen (TUSIAD) and Berlin European Turks Initiative in Frankfurt, Germany.
Speaking at the meeting, Babacan mentioned the reforms Turkey made in the past two years, and said, ``nobody would believe us if we had said two years ago that `we will make those reforms`. However, we have made them and now we are waiting for a date from the EU for start of entry negotiations.``
Stressing that Turkey made the reforms not to enter the EU but to have Turkey enter this contemporary system, Babacan said, ``political stability in the past two years brought stability also to the economy.``
Babacan stated that Turkey started the EU process 40 years ago, adding that, ``this process has been accelerated particularly with the reforms in the recent years. Important reforms have also been made in economy, democratization, human rights and supremacy of law. Turkey did not fulfill those reforms as EU asked but because we believed in them. As a Moslem country, we will share EU`s contemporary values and contribute to the EU in order to be a multicultural society. EU process is important for maintenance of political stability in Turkey.``
Babacan said meeting Maastricht criteria was among the targets of the 3-year economic program of Turkey, ``we want to fulfill Maastricht criteria in 2007. The government fulfilled what it has stated so far. Thus, we have won the confidence of the people and businessmen. Relations with IMF will continue under the 3-year economic policies of Turkey and Turkey`s debts will enter into a downward trend in this period. We will fulfill agriculture, tax and social security reforms and reach our targets.``
Reminding the audiences that six zeros would be dropped from the Turkish banknotes on January 1st, 2005, Babacan said thus Turkish lira would be integrated with the world.
Meanwhile, German Minister of Finance Hans Eichel, who also spoke at the meeting, stated that Germany would openly support Turkey`s accession to the EU.
Mentioning long-lasting Turkish-German friendship, Eichel said this friendship would continue in the EU process from now on.
``Those who oppose to granting Turkey a date for opening of entry negotiations should know that it is impossible for us to progress by hampering each other. We should make cooperation to reach success. Turkey will strengthen EU`s future. Turkey is at the beginning of everything. There is a process in front of Turkey which it should overcome,`` German Minister of Finance stressed.
(AY-MS) 08.10.2004