BAGIS REITERATES "OUR TARGET IS FULL MEMBERSHIP"

Receiving the German delegation of businessmen Hans Joachim Otto, Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology, Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator, Egemen Bagis said, "Our target regarding the EU is full membership and we are working for this aim. We are not considering options other than this."

During the visit held at the Secretariat General for European Union Affairs, Bagis expressed that Germany is an important partner and ally of Turkey. Stating that most European tourists who come to Turkey are from Germany, Bağış also said that German businessmen take first place among Europeans who invest Turkey.

Bagis continued as follows:

"Some German politicians or statesmen want us to say 'yes' to the 'privileged partnership'. But we want 'privileged partnership' not for the European Union; we want this for the relationship between Turkey and Germany. Our target regarding the EU is full membership and we are working for this. We are not considering about options other than this."

Minister Bagis implied that Turkey realized a 11% rate of growth in the first six months of this year while during the same period the growth average of European countries was 1.5 %.

Reminding the German businessmen of the importance of investment in the right place at the right time, Bagis said "Now is the time to invest in Turkey. There are important opportunities in Turkey for the wise investor.

Source: AA