Turk FM urges US firms to cooperate on nuclear energy

"Turkey is located in a region between energy producers and energy consumers," Babacan said after meeting the U.S. Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman on Wednesday. 

Babacan reminded Bodman that 70 percent of all energy sources in the world are situated in Turkey's region.

The United States and Turkey brought on Monday into force an agreement for cooperation concerning peaceful uses of nuclear energy by an exchange of diplomatic notes.

The deal will permit the transfer between the two countries of technology, material, reactors, and components for nuclear research in such areas as medicine and agriculture, and for nuclear power production.Â

In his meeting with the U.S. Secretary of Treasury Henry Paulson, Babacan informed Paulson about the economic reform process in Turkey and the privatizations since 2002.

Paulson told Babacan that "Turkey is a success story as a free market economy".

Babacan later met U.S. House of Representatives House Majority Whip James Clyburn and discussed diverse issues, including energy topics, Turkey's role in the Middle East peace process, Turkey's contributions in the dialog between Pakistan and Afghanistan, and Turkey's role in Kosovo and Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Babacan informed Clyburn that Turkey is preparing to open 15 new embassies in Africa. He also said Turkey is against Iran's plans to possess nuclear weapons, "Turkey believes that dialog with Iran is better than isolating this country."

Photo:DHA