Turkey keen to further relations with GCC

Turkey's GDP shot up from $220 billion in 2002 to $618 billion in 2009, the world's 17th largest Nominal GDP, and now is a member of the G20 group, according to Prof Dr Emrullah Isler, Chief Advisor to Turkish Prime Minister.

During the tenure of the current government, the inflation in Turkey has lowered from 30 per cent to single digits, Isler said in a lecture in Dubai on the changes taking place in Turkey and the future of Turkish-Arab relations.

Turkey, he said, aims to become among the world's ten largest economies by 2023, which corresponds to the 100th anniversary of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the Republic of Turkey who established true democracy and freedom in modern Turkey.

Sheikh Majid Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Culture '&' Arts Authority and other senior officials attended the lecture. Prof Isler is also the head of Arabic Language Department, Foreign Languages College at Gazi University, Ankara.

Turkey's debts to the International Monetary Fund went down to $6.8 billion in 2009, from $23.5 billion in 2002, he noted.

Noting other changes and developments in Turkey, Isler said Turkey now has a total of 102 universities.

On foreign policy, Isler said if Turkey, which has become a member of the Arab League as an observer, maintains its relations with any country, it should not be taken as a substitute to its relations with any other country.

The direct telephone high-level diplomacy between Turkey and Arab countries has recently become fast-paced, he remarked.

He noted that Turkey is interested in furthering relations with GCC and other Arab countries.

He cited the mechanism of the strategic dialogue between Turkey and GCC which was launched in 2008.

He also cited the establishment of the supreme council for strategic cooperation with Iraq and Syria.

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