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Hurriyet Daily News, Turkey
Aug 9 2014
Turkey to benefit from EU-Russia row: Minister
Erdinç Çelikkan
ANKARA
The dispute between Russia and the Western world tends to create
economic opportunities for Turkey, as the country is seeking a bigger
role in Asian trade and to-build stronger economic ties
The crisis that Russia is facing with the West may present Turkey new
opportunities, according to Economy Minister Nihat Zeybekci.
`Amid the deadlock between Russia, Ukraine, the European Union and the
United States, we will carry our interests to the peak while
[remaining] closer to Russia,' the minister said during a recent
interview with a group of journalists. `We will gain advantages from
that.'
The Russian embargo on U.S. and European goods was launched in
retaliation against U.S. and European sanctions over Russia's alleged
role in eastern Ukraine separatist violence.
Russia is in talks with a number of countries such as Belarus,
Kyrgyzstan, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan on issues like free
trade or a customs union, Zeybekci said, adding that Turkey's
intention was not to join such a customs union but engage in
`preferential trade.'
What happens in Russia will be a `big change' for the Turkic republics
and Turkey, he said, adding that Turkey had not lost its position in
free-trade deal talks between the EU and the U.S.
`Countries that account for 50 percent of world trade are reshaping
the map of the economy. We cannot stay out of this in an environment
that the changes so fast,' he said. `The developments in Iraq are
making Turkey a compulsory [trade destination].'
The country is also a good spot for European capital, according to the minister.
`When Europe goes under a monetary expansion, there isn't another
[destination] that this money would go to,' he said.
Turkey will shift from a `passive economy' to an `active economy'
starting Aug. 10, he said, in an open reference to the presidential
elections over the weekend.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip ErdoÄ?an, who is competing against
Ekmeleddin Ä°hsanoÄ?lu, the joint candidate of the main opposition
Republican People's Party (CHP) and the Nationalist Movement Party
(MHP), as well as Selahattin DemirtaÅ?, the co-chair of the People's
Democracy Party (HDP), is promising a more hands-on presidency if
elected.
`If we continue with the production and marketing habits that we are
used to and have conducted until today, it will be impossible to reach
the 2023 goals. We cannot reach them even by 15 to 20 percent,' he
said, adding that the country had reached its current position as a
subcontractor in a business habitat where raw materials and energy
resources are controlled by other countries.
`What Turkey should do next is control consumption networks itself.
We can reach the 2023 [goals] only via an active economy, not a
passive one,' he said.
The Middle East, the Caucasus, the northern Black Sea, the Gulf and
the Arabic peninsula are the targets for such goals, he said.
The minister also said Iran would be an important country for the
Turkish economy, mainly due to a recent preferential trade deal.
August/09/2014
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkey-to-benefit-from-eu-russia-row-minister.aspx?pageID=238&nID=70176&NewsCatID=344
Aug 9 2014
Turkey to benefit from EU-Russia row: Minister
Erdinç Çelikkan
ANKARA
The dispute between Russia and the Western world tends to create
economic opportunities for Turkey, as the country is seeking a bigger
role in Asian trade and to-build stronger economic ties
The crisis that Russia is facing with the West may present Turkey new
opportunities, according to Economy Minister Nihat Zeybekci.
`Amid the deadlock between Russia, Ukraine, the European Union and the
United States, we will carry our interests to the peak while
[remaining] closer to Russia,' the minister said during a recent
interview with a group of journalists. `We will gain advantages from
that.'
The Russian embargo on U.S. and European goods was launched in
retaliation against U.S. and European sanctions over Russia's alleged
role in eastern Ukraine separatist violence.
Russia is in talks with a number of countries such as Belarus,
Kyrgyzstan, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan on issues like free
trade or a customs union, Zeybekci said, adding that Turkey's
intention was not to join such a customs union but engage in
`preferential trade.'
What happens in Russia will be a `big change' for the Turkic republics
and Turkey, he said, adding that Turkey had not lost its position in
free-trade deal talks between the EU and the U.S.
`Countries that account for 50 percent of world trade are reshaping
the map of the economy. We cannot stay out of this in an environment
that the changes so fast,' he said. `The developments in Iraq are
making Turkey a compulsory [trade destination].'
The country is also a good spot for European capital, according to the minister.
`When Europe goes under a monetary expansion, there isn't another
[destination] that this money would go to,' he said.
Turkey will shift from a `passive economy' to an `active economy'
starting Aug. 10, he said, in an open reference to the presidential
elections over the weekend.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip ErdoÄ?an, who is competing against
Ekmeleddin Ä°hsanoÄ?lu, the joint candidate of the main opposition
Republican People's Party (CHP) and the Nationalist Movement Party
(MHP), as well as Selahattin DemirtaÅ?, the co-chair of the People's
Democracy Party (HDP), is promising a more hands-on presidency if
elected.
`If we continue with the production and marketing habits that we are
used to and have conducted until today, it will be impossible to reach
the 2023 goals. We cannot reach them even by 15 to 20 percent,' he
said, adding that the country had reached its current position as a
subcontractor in a business habitat where raw materials and energy
resources are controlled by other countries.
`What Turkey should do next is control consumption networks itself.
We can reach the 2023 [goals] only via an active economy, not a
passive one,' he said.
The Middle East, the Caucasus, the northern Black Sea, the Gulf and
the Arabic peninsula are the targets for such goals, he said.
The minister also said Iran would be an important country for the
Turkish economy, mainly due to a recent preferential trade deal.
August/09/2014
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkey-to-benefit-from-eu-russia-row-minister.aspx?pageID=238&nID=70176&NewsCatID=344