TUSIAB SAYS NO COOPERATION WITH ARMENIA

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Nov 14 2006

Turkish Industrialists’ and Businessmen’ Association -TUSIAD-, based in
Istanbul, which cooperates with Armenian businessmen, has no relations
to the Union of Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen-TUSIAB," TUSIAB
issued a statement to make clear the article "TUSIAD establishes new
union to expand business relations with Armenia" spread by APA news
agency quoting Turkish Daily News.

TUSIAB said the news misled public and was misunderstood.

"TUSIAB condemns and is against any political, cultural social or
commercial relations with aggressor-Armenia until the territorial
integrity of Azerbaijan is restored," the Union stated, adding there
is no connection between TUSIAD and TUSIAB.

The previous news said the TUSİAD-led Union of Black Sea and
Caspian Confederation of Enterprises (UBCCE) will hold its first
general assembly on Nov. 27 to which executives from the Armenian
Industrialists and Businessmen’s Association have been invited,
APA reports quoting Turkish Daily News.

The union was established with the aim of developing economic and
commercial relations among neighboring Black Sea and Caspian countries.

TUSİAD President Omer Sabanci initiated the establishment of the
union with the aim of developing economic and commercial relations
among neighboring Black Sea and Caspian countries. A decision was
made at preparatory meetings in May and June of this year to locate
the headquarters of the 12-member UBCCE in Istanbul.

The union was formed with the participation of several TUSİAD
counterparts from member countries. Armenia became a member of the
union with the Armenian Industrialists and Businessmen’s Association.

The UBCCE general assembly will be held at Istanbul’s Sail Halim
Paşa Yalisi on Nov. 27, at which Armenia will be represented by
Arsen Gazeryan, head of the Armenian Industrialists and Businessmen’s
Association and also co-chairman of the Turkish-Armenian Business
Council.

TUSİAD’s Brussels representative, Bahadir Kaleagasi, said the
UBCCE was formed after intensive studies around the Black Sea and
Caspian region. The preparatory meetings of the confederation have
been completed. Armenia is a member of the union, and they have been
invited, he said.

Turkish-Armenian Business Development Council deputy head Noyan Soyak
said TUSİAD and the Turkish-Armenian Business Council had been
exchanging views since 2000. Gazeryan served as a bridge between the
business worlds of the two countries, both in his capacity as head of
the Armenian association and as co-chairman of the council, he noted,
adding that Gazeryan and TUSİAD were in constant contact with
each other.

"Armenian businessmen are informed of every development in
TUSİAD. When Sabanci was elected president, Armenian businessmen
congratulated him. We, as the council, also organize meetings where
Turkish and Armenian businesspeople come together," he said.

The meeting in November aims to develop Turkey’s relations with its
neighbors, Soyak said.

"Armenia is invited within this context. We see this as the
continuation of previous meetings. In the upcoming meeting, the
launching of bilateral talks between the two countries may come up,"
he said.

Turkish business circles said nay commercial or economic cooperation
with Armenia doesn’t serve the interests of Turkey and those
cooperating with Armenian businessmen are Jews and Armenians by
origin.