NEGOTIATIONS WILL START; HOWEVER, WE ENTER A STONY, MINED ROAD
By Turhan Bozkurt

Zaman, Turkey
Oct 3 2005

zaman.com

Koc Holding Honorary Chairman Rahmi Koc talked in a hopeful way
about Turkey’s European Union (EU) membership bid. Koc said that
Austria’s attitude should be taken into consideration as he explained,
“The biggest threat within the EU comes from the Austrians. They are
insistent on starting membership negotiations for Croatia. I think
the EU will start negotiations with Turkey anyway; however, we will
enter a stony, mined road, which is full of barricades.” Stressing
that Turkey will continue its own way no matter what the answer is
from Brussels, Koc showed the positive views Turkey receives from
foreign capital as a ground for this.

“Even if the bonds are cut, they may say ‘stop for a while’. The
investments are shaped in three or four year’s time.” According
to Koc, the foreign investors will take the long term profits into
consideration and look for ways to become permanent in Turkey instead
of thinking of short term profits.

Criticizing the EU’s attitude towards Turkey, “I was afraid the
Cyprus issue would come to the agenda and they brought it. They
brought the Armenian issue to the agenda as well. The acts of these
Europeans cannot be predicted. They may bring the Kurdish issue to the
agenda, too,” Koc admitted. Indicating that Turkey should find sincere
partners for itself within the EU to get the support of Europeans, Koc
continued, “When we are purchasing a bank, we make partnership with the
expert of that business just like this, Turkey should find partners for
itself even in the dynamics of the European community. Our diplomats
are very skilled, they fulfill their responsibilities; however,
we need to get the support of very experienced Europeans. Spain and
Portugal worked with these kinds of people.”