ANKARA-ISTANBUL - 01.12.2002 - State Minister Kursad Tuzmen left on Sunday for Greece to attend Turkish-Greek Business Council meeting and to search for support for opening of Turkey's European Union (EU) accession negotiations.
Prior to his depature, Tuzmen told reporters that he would participate in two important activities in Greece.
Trade volume between the two countries was below 1 billion U.S. dollars, Tuzmen said.
Tuzmen noted that this figure did not reflect the potential and their aim was to further improve commercial relations.
Stating that 2004 Olympics would be held in Greece, Tuzmen said that they would search the ways of joint projects related with the olympics.
Tuzmen pointed out that joint economic commission meeting between Turkey and Greece would be held in the first quarter of 2003 and that date for this meeting would be set during his contacts.
A statement of Foreign Trade Undersecretariat said that Tuzmen would join the meeting together with Greek Deputy Foreign Minister and Turkey-Greek Joint Economic Commission (JEC) Co-chairman Andreas Loverdos.
Tuzmen will have a meeting with Greek Minister of Transport and Communications Christos Verelis and meet with Foreign Minister George Papandreou at a dinner.
Kursad Tuzmen will address a group of almost 350 people including Greek Minister of Development Apostoslos Tsochatzopoulos, high-level bureaucrats, Turkish and Greek businessmen, and representatives of some non-governmental organizations.
Basic policies of the government, targets, Turkish-Greek relations and future expectations, joint projects and cooperation with Greece will be taken up during Tuzmen's contacts.
Tuzmen will draw attention to sincere efforts and progress of Turkey on the road to EU membership and express Turkey's expectation to be given a date in Copenhagen summit.
The statement noted that Tuzmen would express belief that neighbour and ally Greece would have an efficient role in giving a date to open full membership talks with Turkey.
Tuzmen and the accompanying delegation will return to Turkey on December 3.