Turkey's PM says steps taken for strategic partnership with Germany

Speaking at a joint press conference with the German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Ankara, Prime Minister Erdogan said that steps were taken to develop a strategic partnership model between Turkey and Germany.

No doubt, steps to be taken with Germany, a country whose more than 3,000 entrepreneurs operate in Turkey, will benefit the two countries. The fact that Ms. Angela Merkel is being accompanied by a large delegation of German businesspeople is an indication of the benefit the two countries will reap, Erdogan said.

We will jointly attend a business council in north-western province of Istanbul on Tuesday with Ms. Merkel. Both Ms. Merkel and I will address a large group of businesspeople in Istanbul, Erdogan noted.

The trade volume between Turkey and Germany was worth around 23 billion euros in 2008. Due to the global financial crisis, this figure dropped in 2009. Turkey's exports to Germany increased by 16 percent in the first two months of 2010 when compared to the same term last year, Erdogan said.

Thanking German corporations who have made investments in Turkey, Erdogan said that "we discussed (with Ms. Merkel) ways to further promote Turkish-German commercial and economic relations".

I am sure that the businesspeople of our two countries will hold important meetings in Istanbul on Tuesday. On the other hand, we discussed today with Ms. Merkel certain international issues, including Cyprus, Erdogan said.

We had a chance to evaluate the fight against terror and Ms. Merkel informed me that Germany will remain determined to fight against terror, Erdogan said.

Ms. Merkel's visit to Turkey will have a cultural dimension on Tuesday. Ms. Merkel and I will attend a special program at the German Consulate General (in Istanbul) in which German artists and singers will perform as part of the "Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture" activities.

Angela Merkel proceeded to Istanbul later on Monday evening.


/World Bulletin/