Babacan: We Are Determined To Maintain Reform Process

WASHINGTON D.C. - State Minister Ali Babacan said on Thursday, ''the government is determined to maintain the reform process whether or not a date is set for opening of accession talks with Turkey at the European Union's (EU) summit in Copenhagen.''
Speaking at the 23th annual conference of Assembly of Turkish-American Associations in Washington D.C., Babacan said, ''Turkey, as a Muslim country, will constitute a perfect sample in the EU with its democracy. This is of great importance for the whole region. 60-80 percent of Turkish people supports Turkey's becoming a full member of the EU.''
''Confidence has a key importance for economic stability. And economic stability is vital for sustainable growth. We will maintain reform process. We will work on tax reform, privatization, and improvement of foreign investment conditions. Following the general elections on November 3, 2002, inflation and interests rates have begun decreasing. Confidence of international markets in Turkish economy was high in 1980s. However, this confidence was lost in 1990s,'' he said.
Describing the new government as conservative and reformist, Babacan said that they attributed importance to pluralism, targeted a sound judicial system in Turkey and planned to start a struggle against corruption.
Meanwhile, U.S. Under Secretary of State Marc Grossman said that the new U.S. Embassy in Afghan capital Kabul would be constructed by a Turkish-American partnership.
Noting that the EU had had historical opportunities such as opening accession talks with Turkey and making contribution to solution of the Cyprus question, Grossman said that Turkey had made many important reforms for the EU full membership.
He stressed that Turkey did not make these reforms to satisfy the United States and the EU, but it made these reforms to increase prosperity of its people.
Stressing that the United States thought that the EU's setting a date for opening of accession talks with Turkey would further strengthen the ties between Turkey and the West, Grossman said that the EU's setting a date would accelerate Turkey's economic and political reforms.
He said that Turkey's full membership to the EU would constitute a good example proving that Islam and democracy could unite with each other.
Noting that they had been supporting efforts of the United Nations to find a solution to the Cyprus question, Grossman said that United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan's plan should lead the sides to an agreement.