MANAMA (AA) - Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said, ''I have received surveys from France about referendum in that country. Turkey is not among the reasons why French people voted 'no' to EU Constitution.''
Gul, who is currently in Bahrain, met Turkish businessmen and finance circles in that country on Monday.
Gul listened to views and complaints of Turkish businessmen and they also discussed EU Constitution which was rejected in France during the referendum yesterday.
Gul said that France has its own problems, adding, ''it is Turkey which will prevent or pursue its EU negotiation process. It is up to us.''
''I have received surveys from France about why French people voted 'no' in the referendum. Many problems are mentioned in the surveys, but Turkey is not one of those problems,'' he added.
Turkish businessmen told Gul that they do not have big problems in Bahrain and they encourage Bahrainians to visit Turkey, but some of them complain about security problems like theft or snatching in Turkey.
Gul said in return that such problems are seen in any place of the world, adding that these problems are exaggerated in Turkey very much.
Gul said that it is also important that Turkey has started to give visa to citizens of Gulf countries at border.
Turkish businessmen also complained about transportation problem, noting that they have problems in orders from Turkey. Gul said that when problem in Iraq is solved, transportation issue will also be solved.
After his meeting with businessmen, Gul visited Quran Museum in Manama.
(GC-A֩
2005-05-30