Joint Press Release On Meeting Of Turkey - U.S. Economic Partnership Commission

ANKARA, Feb 27 (A.A) - The meeting of Turkish-U.S. Economic Partnership Commission on February 26 and 27 marked the first step to elevate the economic relations between the two countries to the same level as the strategic partnership the two sides share on political and security matters, it was stated in a joint press release on Wednesday.
In the joint press statement which was released after the meeting, it was stated that the delegation chaired by Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal and the U.S. delegation chaired by Ambassador Alan Larson, Undersecretary of State for Economic, Business and Agricultural Affairs debated various issues in order to strengthen and improve the economic relations at the meeting.
The press release noted that progress in laying the basis for the establishment of Qualifying Industrial Zones (QIZs) which were thought in order to export a significant range of products of Turkey duty-free to the U.S. and increase its export to third countries was provided at the commission meeting.
The two sides also agreed to enhance the cooperation between the two governments in ensuring that Turkey is also able to fully utilize the trade opportunities under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) of the United States.
The commission also decided to take steps to facilitate Turkey's access to the U.S. market by extending GSP benefits to certain hand-knitted and hand-woven carpets for Turkey.
The two sides agreed to improve the relations in tourism sector between Turkey and the United States and to explore ways to promote the utilization of new technologies for easier passage of goods in customs field.
Turkey and the United States agreed to continue the commission meetings and to increase the contacts between governments and business worlds of the two countries.
The two sides noted that the contacts between the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce would be encouraged and supported.
The United States will open an American Presence Post in Izmir to promote trade and investment and a business information office in Gaziantep.
FOREIGN MINISTRY UNDERSECRETARY ZIYAL: ''WE HAVE TAKEN THE FIRST STEP OF A LONG TERM PROCESS AS A RESULT OF OUR EXTREMELY TRANSPARENT MEETINGS''
Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal said on Wednesday that they have taken the first step of a very long term process during the ''transparent'' meetings held for two days within the framework of the Turkish-U.S. Economic Partnership Commission works.
Addressing a joint news conference with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Alan Larson for Economic, Commercial and Agricultural Affairs, Ziyal said the first meeting of Turkish-U.S. Economic Partnership Commission ended.
Ziyal said a decision had been given for the meeting during the visit of Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit to the United States, and within the framework of an agreement reached with the U.S. President George Bush. Ziyal said with the meeting, they started works to improve economic relations to the level of strategic cooperation and partnership.''
Pointing out that the meetings took place in a different atmosphere when compared with the other meetings, Ziyal said, ''we had the facility to convey our views and reciprocal sensitivities. We tried to determine areas which the two countries can make cooperation in the most beneficial way. I think, as a result of our extremely transparent meetings, we have taken the first step of a very long term process. Other steps will follow this.''
Ziyal said their hope was to provide progress for the fulfillment of the political assignment given to them by the heads of state and government of the two countries. He said, ''we tried to determine short and long term facilities pertaining to economic policy, trade and investments. We have taken many steps, but we should work more.''
U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Alan Larson for Economic, Commercial and Agricultural Affairs in his part said the fundamental target of the talks was to provide Turkey's economic growth and provide inclusion of Turkey to global economy with a competitive economy.
Larson said new facilities would be presented within the framework of Generalized Preferential Trade System Program (GTT) in exportation of hand made carpets and textile products to the U.S.
Larson said the sides agreed to make proposals to their governments for the formation of Qualified Industrial Zones, noting that those zones would improve exportation of Turkey to the U.S. and the third countries.
Recalling that Turkey attracted less direct foreign capital when compared to the other OECD countries, Larson said they decided to set up business council to increase this, and that businessmen of the two countries would exert efforts to improve business facilities.
Larson stressed that they also discussed lifting of the obtacles in front of the investments.
Larson said reform process in Turkey, economic potential and economic cooperation were mainly discussed at the meeting.