ISTANBUL - ``Turkey has made significant progress on the way to being a global economy,`` Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday.
After the meeting of the Investment Advisory Council of Turkey in Istanbul, Erdogan held a press conference.
Underlining that Turkish government worked really hard for the country to reach that point, he stated, ``we see fluctuations in all world markets. Naturally, we feel reflections of these fluctuations in Turkey as well. However, Turkish economy has the capacity of overcoming such fluctuations.``
Stating that Turkey`s long-term targets were clear, Erdogan noted that the government and the central bank were taking necessary steps against fluctuations in the market.
Erdogan noted that Investment Advisory Council confirmed the government`s determination to improve investment climate in the country, stating that members of the council were also pleased that direct foreign investment in the country reached 9.7 billion USD in 2005.
-REHN`S STATEMENT-
When he was reminded of the statement of EU Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn that EU could suspend negotiations in case Turkey fails to open its ports to Greek Cypriot side, Erdogan said, ``he assumes compromising attitudes. I think that my friend (Rehn) does not assume an attitude which may make a negative impact on screening and the negotiation processes which are going well. We have taken and are taking necessary steps on these processes.``