Romanian president pledges support to Turkey for opening of new chapters

ANKARA

Turkish President Abdullah Gül and Romanian President Traian Basescu speak during a joint press conference in Ankara Feb 5. AA photo

Romania “resolutely” supports Turkey’s EU bid, Romanian President Traian Basescu has said, stressing that Ankara’s membership negotiations with Brussels should be “accelerated.”

“In 2013, Romania openly gave support to Turkey for the opening of all chapters and for the acceleration of negotiations. These negotiations should be finalized,” Basescu said on Feb. 5, speaking at a joint press conference with President Abdullah Gül in Ankara. 

“It’s time to speed up negotiations and the process,” he added. Turkey’s membership of the EU is in Romania’s interests too, Basescu said during his two-day official visit to Turkey, adding that his country wanted EU membership for as many countries in the Balkans and the Black Sea region as possible. 

“We can share the same values and follow the same interests,” he said.

For his part, President Gül welcomed Romania’s support for Turkey’s EU bid. Citing the current total trade volume of nearly $5 billion between the two countries, Gül said they both aimed to increase this to $10 billion.

Busescu emphasized that his country would support Turkish businessmen in making investments in his country, noting that Romania would receive financial resources in the EU’s new fiscal period and new opportunities in the construction sector would become available.

He also urged Turkish companies to focus on the food, tourism and energy sectors. Busescu said they discussed potential cooperation on defense regarding the training of technical experts after the purchase of F-16 fighter jets.