IZMIR - U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Eric S. Edelman stated that foreign investment in Turkey would have a slow pace after it got a date for accession talks on December 17th.
Delivering a speech titled ''Turkish-American Economic and Commercial Relations'', Edelman remarked that the U.S. is satisfied with the progress made in Turkish-European Union (EU) relations.
''Turkish membership will create opportunities for both EU and American businessmen,'' added Edelman.
Ambassador Edelman touched on the subject of 'Turkey and IMF' and said, ''there will be a new three year program with the IMF, which will attract more foreign investors. There are topics such as private sector, legislation, fair trade, tax incentives, ownership rights and the protection of foreign investors that need work upon which foreign businessmen will rush to Turkey,'' reminded Edelman.
Answering a question on the impact of a date, that may be given on December 17th, for the start of accession talks, Edelman noted, ''if a date is provided to Turkey for the beginning of accession talks, this will not immediately result in a large influx of foreign investors. Only with time and after the initial investors are successful, shall we witness an increase in the amount of foreign investors,'' commented Edelman.
Edelman expressed his government's satisfaction over the newly built Baku-Ceyhan oil pipeline. ''Such a pipeline was a dream seven years ago. Today, it has been realized and oil from the Caucasus will be carried to Ceyhan,'' told Edelman.
According to Edelman, ''terror in the Middle East will continue due to some political balances, poor economic conditions of large segments of the population and high rates of unemployment within the young population.''
(ES-MS) 25.10.2004