SIGNIFICANT STEPS TAKEN IN FOREIGN TRADE

Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis delivered a speech at the 1st Commercial Counselors Conference, indicating that Turkey was a ray of hope for Europe, which is in dire economic straits.

At the conference hosted by State Minister Zafer Caglayan in Ankara, Bagis indicated that some European countries were concerned about Turkey's potential and added "Today, those who ignore their own problems, can't see that Turkey is a key country for Europe". Bagis indicated that Turkey nevertheless continued determinedly on its path. Stating that the EU was Turkey's dietician, Bagis said Turkey became more democratic and transparent with the EU process and added "We are now in a period, where dark powers have no more dominance in Turkey, and are becoming public."

Bagis also mentioned Customs Union in this regard and said that necessary steps were taken to solve the problems on the Customs Union, which had significant contributions to Turkish economy. Bagis indicated that they took lessons from Customs Union negotiations in the past and adopted a determined approach in concluding the Readmission Agreement. Bagis pointed out that Turkey wouldn't start the ratification process of the Agreement without getting the necessary authorizations from European Commission and Council for lifting visa requirements for Turkish nationals.

Bagis said necessary steps were also taken for the visa issue which had a significant importance in terms of foreign trade and pointed out that they, in every occasion, demanded the same requirements issued for other countries.

Source:AA