Anatolian Times, Turkey
Sept 23 2005

Turkey Almost Ready For Negotiations With E.U., Babacan

ANKARA – Turkey is almost ready for full membership negotiations with
the EU, Turkish State Minister and chief negotiator Ali Babacan said
on Friday.
Answering questions of reporters before he left for the United
States, Babacan said that the negotiation team had almost been set
up, and added, ”how can public institutions or NGOs contribute to
negotiations? We will discuss these matters in detail (after October
3rd when the EU is expected to launch full membership negotiations
with Turkey).”

Commenting on the court decision to suspend a conference titled
”Ottoman Armenians during the Empire’s Fall: Scientific
Responsibility and Problems of Democracy”, Babacan said that
hampering thoughts are not in compliance with the human rights and
freedoms that Turkey is trying to catch up with.

-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS-

Touching on economic developments, Babacan expressed no worry about
the primary surplus target, and said, ”according to our estimations,
we may record a primary surplus more than 6.5 percent (this year).”

Babacan forecast the year-end inflation rate below 8 percent, while
stated that Turkey had to pursue a firm budget policy even next year
since current deficit problems were not solved yet.