ANKARA (AA) - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan left for Russia Monday afternoon.
Holding a news conference at Ankara's Esenboga Airport before his departure, Erdogan said, ''I will go to Russia to inaugurate Turkish Trade Center which was built thanks to efforts of the Union of Turkish Chambers & Commodity Exchanges (TOBB) and Turkish Exporters Union (TIB).''
''I will also attend Turkish-Russian Business Council meeting and meet Russian President Vladimir Putin. We have earlier discussed my visit to Russia with President Putin who visited Turkey in December,'' he added.
Erdogan said, ''during my meeting with Putin, we will take up bilateral economic and political issues besides recent regional and international developments. Relations between Turkey and Russia which are neighboring countries, have developed significantly in the last 10 years.''
''Russia has become Turkey's second important economic partner, while Turkey has become one of the most significant trade partners of Russia,'' he added.
Erdogan noted, ''trade volume between Turkey and Russia exceeded 10 billion U.S. dollars as of the end of 2004. We aim to increase this volume to 25 billion U.S. dollars in a near future. We are determined and we have understood during meetings in December that Russia is determined as well.''
''Turkish Trade Center is expected to serve 200 firms. When this center became active, it will have an additional contribution to economic relations between Russia and Turkey,'' he said.
Noting, ''investments of Turkish businessmen in Russia amounted nearly 2 billion U.S. dollars,'' Erdogan said, ''we expect this amount to increase to 2.5 billion U.S. dollars in a short time.''
Erdogan said, ''Turkey has started to be an attraction center especially for foreign investors thanks to economic stability and reforms (performed). Recent developments regarding the EU, momentum gained in December 17th process and date for starting EU entry talks increased the amount of direct foreign investments.''
''We expect investments of Russian businessmen in Turkey to increase either. We have seen that their interest in Turkey increased. There is a sound will in both country on political level to further develop economic and commercial relations,'' indicated Erdogan.
Erdogan said, ''Russian citizen have an interest towards Turkey especially in tourism. Recent figures show that 1,700,000 Russian tourists visited Turkey.''
Noting, ''bilateral investments between two countries will continue,'' Erdogan said, ''We will take joint steps regarding Caucasia and Middle East besides Turkey's role as an energy corridor.''
When a reporter recalled, ''during his visit to Turkey Putin said Turkey's membership to the EU will affect Turkey-Russia relations negatively,'' and asked, ''what kind of messages you will give to Putin to remove his uneasiness about the issue?'' Erdogan said, ''there are various ways to remove such uneasiness. We will make necessary steps mutually.''
When asked whether he expects a positive step regarding Cyprus issue during his visit to Russia, Erdogan said, ''we have earlier discussed this issue and we will talk them again. If everybody fulfills their responsibility to overcome difficulties, our region will become a basin of peace.''
Turkish State Minister Kursad Tuzmen, Industry & Trade Minister Ali Coskun, Labor & Social Security Minister Murat Basesgioglu, Energy & Natural Resources Minister Hilmi Guler and businessmen are accompanying Erdogan in his visit to Russia.
(GC-ULG)
2005-01-10