GROWING INTEREST TO TURKEY

Attending the 6th Bodrum Round Table Meeting which was organised by Centre for Economic and Foreign Policy Studies (EDAM) in Bodrum as a speaker, Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis stated that with an 11 percent growth rate Turkey broke a world record in the first half of this year.

Indicating that especially following the referendum, it excited everyone that Turkish people expressed their preference for democracy and the EU reforms, Bagis said:

"There is also a growing interest abroad in our country. We, together with our Prime Minister, were in Germany yesterday. Germany is traditionally known to be a country which has concern over Turkey's EU membership process; however, we learnt that one of the leading foreign policy figures of the German Christian Democrats, the president of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the German Parliament published a book discussing why Turkey must be a member to the EU. In almost all recent statements of Mr. Guido Westerwelle, the German Foreign Minister and the leader of the Liberal Party, which is one of the important parties in Germany and a coalition member, are laid on why Turkey must be a member to the EU."

Pointing out that many people who were impressed with Turkey's economic growth rate of 11 percent in the first half of this year have started to change their views about Turkey in various countries of Europe, Bagis said "This shows that there are really good prospects for Turkey. OECD figures indicate that Turkey would become one of the three fastest growing countries in the world by 2020. As long as we support each other and work together for the future of this country, a bright future awaits Turkey".

Noting that guests from around the world came to such meetings and summits in Turkey, Bagis said "In a way they discuss not only Turkey's EU process but also the future of the EU itself. The reason is that Turkey is a key country for the future of the EU. One of the most important problems of Europe today is energy. 70 percent of energy Europe needs is at Turkey's borders. One of the important problems of Europe is economic crisis. Turkey broke a world record in the first half of this year with an 11 percent growth rate."

Source: AA