Erdogan: Turkey And Germany Are Very Close Friendly Countries

ISTANBUL (AA) - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, ``Turkey and Germany are very close friendly countries. We have experienced it in the EU process.``
     German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder was awarded with `doctor honoris causa` degree by Istanbul`s Marmara University on Wednesday.
     Speaking at the ceremony, Erdogan said, ``this award will carry Turkish-German friendship to a very different point. We have seen the benefits of close relations between Turkey and Germany during EU process.``
     Erdogan said, ``2.7 million Turkish citizens are living in Germany now. 700,000 of them have become German citizens and these people set up a bridge between our two countries.``
     ``Trade volume between Turkey and Germany reached 21 billion USD as of the end of 2004. Also the number of German tourists visiting Turkey is nearly 4 million,`` noted Erdogan.
     Erdogan said, ``there was 24 German companies in Turkey in 1980. This number has reached 1141 today. Also there are 60,000 Turkish companies in Germany. Investment amount of Turks in Germany reached 25 billion Euro.``
     (GC-MS)
2005-05-04