Sabanci warns: TUSAID representation important for Turkey at October 3 talks

Omer Sabanci, president of the the powerful Turkish Industrialists and Entrepreneurs' Association (TUSAID), has commented on the question of which business organizations, if any, would be representing Turkey during the accession talks with the EU, scheduled to start on October 3. Sabanci, who has stressed that if TUSAID is to be a part of the process, it must represent itself autonomously and not be represented by the government, said this: "If the government bases its representation on a hierarchical categorization system, we cannot accept this."Sabanci noted that the government was well aware of TUSAID's efforts regarding Turkey's EU quest, and said that whichever organizations had the power and knowledge to help Turkey during the process should be included in the talks. Sabanci also stressed that public opinion in many EU countries was against Turkey, and that it was necessary to explain clearly why Turkey should be an EU member to citizens of these countries. Granting that this process would take time, Sabanci said "We are working on this matter, and have created with our own budget for the first time ever an 'International Presentation Committee.'"   Critical of comments made by Trade Minister regarding business world representation   Sabanci also commented on the delegation representing Turkey at the start talks, saying "I have a hard time understanding why, when there are so many motivated and authorized people working with the EU, the Industry and Trade Minister says things like "The business world representation should be like this." It is as though the Environmental Minister were making comments on the state of energy while there was an Energy Minister right there. It doesn't make sense." Â