ANKARA - Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday that Turkey-EU negotiation process would be very difficult.
``This process can put pressure on us and we can have difficult debates in the country from time to time,`` said Erdogan in his address to the nation which was broadcast alive this evening at TV channels.
Referring to Turkey`s EU bid, Erdogan said that a new period started in Turkey`s 40-year EU adventure and recalled that the entry talks between Turkey and the EU would start on October 3rd, 2005.
Erdogan said that the government would continue to work to protect the interests of the country, adding that ``we will not give in to open or hidden provocations and unproductive discussions which could impede Turkey`s development and long-term interests``. ``We will always keep our stability and the competitiveness of the economic structure. We will make the public administration transparent. It will be able to determine its own priorities; will be sensitive to the demands of the people; and it will use its resources well,`` Erdogan said.
Erdogan also expressed the willingness of the government to support every kind of initiative that would contribute to the development of the country. He added that Turkey won a great success in fight against inflation thanks to the economic program which the government implemented with decisiveness.
Erdogan said National Income Per Capita increased to 4,172 USD in 2004, stating that this achievement in economic area rose expectations for the future.
``Interest rates dropped, loan facilities broadened, consumption and investments, which were postponed previously, were activated,`` Erdogan noted.
``Private companies speeded up their investments by making use of domestic and foreign resources,`` Erdogan stated, noting that, ``exports and domestic demands have increased recently.``
``In addition to macro-economic policies; policies on employment, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMSEs), social security, health, education, agriculture, housing and energy yielded positive results,`` Erdogan said, and added that the government gave high priority to organized industry zones and small industry sites which contribute to find job to jobless people.
Erdogan said projects related to 85 Organized Industry Zones, and 74 small industry sites, which are included in 2005 investment program, will be implemented without delay. He also said appropriation of free lands to investors, which is in Urgent Action Plan of the government, was included in Law on Incentives, and thus they started to appropriate lands to investors free of charge.
KOBIs
Erdogan mentioned that what makes an economy dynamic and far from depression is small and mid-scale enterprises (KOBIs). ``Although KOBIs make up 99 percent of the Turkish companies, they have not received the financial assistance they deserved``, told Erdogan.
Erdogan expressed that between 1990-2002, out of 200,000 KOBIs only about 4,000 received financial assistance, worth 20 million U.S. dollars. ``During our administration (2002-Present), we have provided an assistance of 177.5 million U.S. dollars to 42,500 KOBIs,`` commented Erdogan.
According to Erdogan, his administration`s goal is to make available financial assistance to 100,000 KOBIs by 2006. ``We have made arrangements whereby Vakifbank, Halk Bank and Ziraat Bank will provide credits to KOBIs. The Turkish Small & Medium Industry Development Organization (KOSGEB) will pay the interest of the loans for the private enterprises,`` remarked Erdogan.
Erdogan said that almost 15,000 KOBIs will make use of credits whose interests will be paid by KOSGEB. ``Each KOBI will receive an assistance of 100,000 U.S. dollars,`` he mentioned.
Premier Erdogan stated that with the removal of bureaucratic steps in founding new businesses, a record number of businesses has been established in Turkey. ``According to State Statistics Institute, the number of businesses established in 2002 was 30,842; in 2003, the number was 32,259; and in 2004, was 40,919,`` remarked Erdogan.
Erdogan stressed that, since the first day of his administration, the ministers and himself, have been visiting a different city of Turkey, every day. ``We are glad to open a factory, an enterprise, school, hospital or road every day in various parts of Turkey,`` expressed Erdogan.
According to Erdogan, Turkey is developing rapidly and is changing its global image in a positive way. Today, Turkey is breaking records in exports, has become the center of attention for foreign investors and is reaching record numbers in tourism, told Erdogan.
``Turkey, as a sleeping giant, is waking up. Our dreams are becoming true. Turkey and our people will shape the future,`` commented Erdogan.