ISTANBUL - Turkish State Minister Ali Babacan has remarked today (Wednesday) that, with the political and economic reforms implemented in the past few years, a silent revolution is taking place in Turkey.
The 38th Annual Meeting of Board of Governors of Asian Development Bank (ADB) began in Istanbul today.
In the opening speech, Turkish State Minister Ali Babacan expressed his happiness in seeing the delegations of 63 member states and bank directors in Istanbul. Babacan commented that Turkey became a member of the ADB in the 1990s. ``For the past 14 years, we have had constructive relations with the ADB and will continue with the same joy in the future,`` told Babacan. ``A silent reform is taking place in Turkey,`` commented Babacan. ``Turkey will continue to make essential reforms in the future,`` he noted .
Babacan pointed out that, as a pre-dominantly Muslim nation, Turkey can prove that Islam and democracy can take root in one country and would be able to join the EU. ``Turkey`s membership to the EU will add a strategic dimension to the union. The EU will have a chance to witness that civilizations can live side by side,`` remarked Babacan.
``After 30 years, Turkey experienced record growths and succeeded to have single digit inflation. What is behind our success is confidence in Turkey by not only the Turks but foreign investors as well,`` concluded Babacan.
2005-05-04