ANKARA (A.A) - 19.04.2002 - President Ahmet Necdet Sezer completed his official visit to the Baltic states and returned to Turkey on Friday.
Speaking at Esenboga Airport, Sezer said that he exchanged views about regional and international issues during his visit to Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia.
Sezer said that Turkey shares similar views with these countries regarding the importance of international cooperation in fight with terrorism, the future of NATO and EU, security, stability and reconstruction of Afghanistan, the steps that have to be taken in the Middle East to stop the violence there.
President Sezer said that he had very beneficial meetings with presidents, parliament speakers, prime ministers and other high ranking officials of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia.
Noting that there is no political problem between Turkey and the three Baltic states, President Sezer said that he was happy to see that the relations develop at the most advancel level. Sezer stressed that three countries have common determination to strengthen the relations and cooperation, adding that ''we also reviewed our bilateral commercial and economic relations in our meetings. We also focused on the need to increase the trade volume and strengthen cooperation in tourism and construction fields.''
Sezer said that he also had the opportunity to attend the business council meetings which brought together the representatives of private sector between Turkey-Lithuania, and Turkey-Estonia. Sezer stressed that the holding of such regular meetings will be beneficial for improvement of the economic cooperation.
Pointing out that he saw the resolution in the three countries to make more cooperation with Turkey in the fields of education and culture, Sezer said that ''we decided to increase the efforts in this field. I had the opportunity to see the studies undertaken in these countries to integrate with European Atlantic institutions. I stated there that Turkey supported the open door policy of NATO and that the admimssion of candidate countries which fulfil the necessary conditions would strengthen NATO. I also stressed in my contacts that the full membership target of three Baltic countries necessitated the strong cooperation among our countries and that such a cooperation would consolidate our full membership efforts. I saw that these countries are also in a positive attitude regarding the full membership of Turkey to EU.''
Sezer said that they exchanged useful views about regional and international issues that closely concern Turkey, adding that he explained his views about these issues.
''I believe that my visit to Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia will speed up the relations with these countries,'' Sezer ended his words.