Vural: Draw Attention Of Foreign Investors To Projects In Turkey

WASHINGTON D.C. (A.A) - 27.06.2002 - Transportation Minister Oktay Vural said on Thursday that he aimed to draw attention of foreign investors to projects of his ministry.
Vural told a press conference at Turkey's Embassy in Washington D.C. that they held informative meetings in the United States especially about conversion of tube tunnel and commuter train lines to subway.
Tube tunnel tender would be held the following year, Vural said.
Vural noted that he informed businessmen about Kars-Tbilisi railway project which would connect Europe and Asia by railway. He said that the preparatory works for Ankara-Istanbul railway rehabilitation project would be finalized by the end of the year and an international tender woud be opened.
He also gave information about the Bursa-Bandirma railway project and Izmir harbour capacity increase project, Vural stated.
Vural pointed out that a tender would be opened for Izmir harbour project and the project would be carried on build-operate-transfer model.
He also had the opportunity to express his views about privatization of Turk Telekom, Vural said.
Vural stated that the privatization plan could be presented in November and said, ''Turk Telekom will be a more efficient institution after it is restructured.''
He also took up cooperation possibilities in aviation security with U.S. officials, Vural said.
Vural noted that air traffic controllers of Afghanistan could be educated and trained in Turkey in order to develop civil aviation in that country.
Vural said he was asked questions about Turkey's EU membership process in Washington Institute, and noted that Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) wanted Turkey to join the EU sincerely, but it thought that a sound evaluation has to be made regarding the issue in respect of security and fight with terrorism.
When asked if Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli planned to visit Washington D.C. next month and Vural came to the U.S. to form the basis of this visit, Vural denied such claims and said that ''if Mr. Bahceli launches such an initiative, he will do it through the official channels.''
Vural said that his visit was a part of the efforts launched to draw the attention of foreign investors to transportation projects in Turkey.
Vural will meet with officials at the U.S. Department of Transportation and American Railways Union and address the Centre for Strategical and International Studies (CSIS) today.
He will later proceed to New York and meet with the Turkish-American Business Forum.