"WE EMBRACE EVERYONE WHO IS MAKING EFFORTS TO BE CONSTRUCTIVE IN THIS COUNTRY"

Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis said: "As often stated by our Prime Minister, we open our doors and hearts to everyone who is making efforts to be constructive in this country and expect more investments from them."

Speaking at the opening of the Merter M1 Meydan Shopping Centre, Bagis declared that by making such an investment for the benefit of Istanbul while global economy was undergoing a very delicate period, Metro Group conveyed a message for the whole world.

Bagis said: "We made a great deal of progress together in the last seven years. In 2002 the total investment in Turkey was 58, 6 billion TL. Today it amounts to 193 billion TL and 156 billion TL of it comes from the private sector... This is a sign of trust in our country."

Reminding that while exports equaled 36 billion Dollars in 2002, today they have reached 132 billion Dollars, Bagis added: "We all observe how far we have progressed in terms of debt ratio, per capita income and inflation. So, we just have to believe first."

Bagis called attention to the fact that Turkey had the 26th biggest economy in the world when Justice and Development Party (AKP) came to power and continued:

"Today, as the 17th biggest economy, we have become one of the countries shaping the world economy in G-20 meetings. Today we have the 6th biggest economy in Europe. When we think of the problems that Europe is facing, we see that it is not possible to cover much ground in them without Turkey today. We must continue our endeavors in this way."

Emphasizing the government's toil to raise Turkey to its deserved standards, Bagis stressed that the state of the Republic of Turkey who had laid down 6 thousand kilometers of roads since its foundation, constructed more than 9 thousand kilometers of roads in the last 7 years.

Bagis continued his speech as follows:

"There are more than 300 shopping centres in Turkey today and we are talking about an economic contribution of more than 35 billion Dollars. This means that if you really wish something, it can come true. We adopt the same approach for the EU as well. I have no doubt that Turkey will become a Member of the EU one day. There might be some Europeans who have concerns about this. There might be some resistance circles who wish Turkey to be governed by gangs like it used to be but we have no intention to yield to their efforts. We are ambitious and determined; we have a resolute prime minister and a very powerful government. And we have the rock-solid support of our people, our nation."

Indicating that these kinds of investments would open up an area for others to flow into Turkey, Bagis stated that he congratulated the investors who decided to make these investments in such a difficult period and that he highly appreciated their hopeful, optimistic and enthusiastic approach.

Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis asserted the following:

"Some circles who fear Turkey's progress and who serve as a status quo watchdog regarded international investors grimly and there are still those who do. Moreover, some of them approached these investments in a very offensive way, seeing them as a means of selling our country. They claimed that Turkey lost its independence but today these investments provide for employment to our people. They bring new technologies to our country. And consequently, our added value increases. As often stated by our Prime Minister, we open our doors and hearts to everyone who is making efforts to be constructive in this country and expect more investments from them."

Pointing out that Turkish people would like to support football teams like Stuttgart and Bayern Munich wholeheartedly like before, Bagis said: "That is why I believe that Germany will put aside its internal political abuse projects on this issue and provide the support Turkey deserves for the EU accession process."Resource: AA