Document Date: 24 Oct 1997
Posting Date:....24 Oct 1997
From the Athens News Agency
Greek-Turkish business relations have overcome past reservations and were developing in a climate of mutual trust, while specific action was being taken to promote joint business plans, Thanassis Lavidhas, chairman of the Union of Greek Businessmen told a Greek-Turkish business forum yesterday.
Speaking during the opening session of the fourth annual forum in Athens, Sarik Tara, vice-chairman of Turkey's business council, told businessmen that the Balkan summit in Crete early next month provided a great opportunity to improve bilateral relations.
He confirmed that Turkish Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz would be attending the summit and underlined that Turkish businessmen were pressing both political and military leaders in the country in order to improve Greek-Turkish relations. Mr. Tara called on his Greek counterparts to do the same.
About 25 Greek and 30 Turkish businessmen are attending the fourth Greek-Turkish forum.
The agenda includes creation of joint ventures between construction companies, aimed at landing projects in the wider Balkan region and the development of co-operation in the tourism sector.
Other issues are the avoidance of double taxation and the possibilities of utilizing European Union programs concerning the Balkans which necessitate co-operation between Greece and non-EU countries.