They had a special request before they came that their first meeting in Turkey should be organized by their affiliated organization Taba Amcham ; closed to press , off the records and only open to Taba Board members , Chairmen of the Taba Amcham Committees and the Representatives of the American Companies or Institutions . We are therefore sorry of not having informed this event prior to the meeting We tried however to put down the whole minutes of the meeting , to inform our members and non - membering American Companies who did not attend the luncheon as follows .

It is with great pleasure that I address this honorable group as the Chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in Turkey . It is a privilege to join you here today . I take this opportunity to share my vision of a growing relationship between Turkey and this great Country , the United States of America , which is among the Turkey's real friends . United States has always proven to be a friend of Turkey . As we all know Turkey is going through the most serious economic crisis in its history . America since the beginning of this crisis has supported Turkey both politically and financially . Both as a Turkish citizen and the Chairman of Turkish American Business Association , I am moved to thank the U.S. for its vote of confidence in these difficult times . Turkey on the other hand just like in Korea , during the Gulf War , Somalia , Bosnia , Kosovo and now in Afghanistan will continue to support United States as an ally and friend as the true defenders of democracy and freedom in the world . I believe there is still room to expand the ties between our Countries as we build both trade and direct investments on our historic partnership . For example I believe that Turkey deserves to enjoy the same trading terms and conditions between the European Union and the U.S. Turkey is entitled to this , as a member of the Custom Union of E.U. Most importantly both our Countries would greatly benefit from the economic reward and prosperity this would generate . We have an important role to promote the identity of being an American Chamber of Commerce in Turkey . I wish a warm welcome to our guests Mr Donohue , Mr Litman and their colleagues .

  d) COOPERATION WITH OTHER ASSOCIATIONS
     a) Joining to the ESTABLISHMENT of Caucasus Cooperation
      1-Attended a meeting in Baku
      2-Participated to another one in Yerevan
     3-We organized a meeting in İstanbul on December 6 , to deal with
         important issues such as custom tariff harmonization , exemption of
         custom duties on export items in transit , can Caucasus countries be
         benefitted in case Qualified industrial zones are established in Turkey
         through joint production ventures
      4-This meeting was boycotted by Armenian group due to a press conference
         statement of an American high ranking officer saying that genocide claim
         has not been proven .
       . WE PROPOSE
         American Chambers of Commerce support us to reunite this group for
         possible trade development activities in Caucasus

    b) EDI agreement (An Israeli company promoting Turkish product )
    c) IESC Connection ( International Executive Services Corps )
    d) Promoting AISEC in student exchange
    e) Communication with Main STATE CHAMBERS in U.S.
    f) Contacts with Federation of Turkish American Associations Inc
         in New York and ATAA in Washington DC .
    g) Organization of Conferences with MICROSOFT and KOÇ HOLDING
         to promote e-commerce to Taba members

   c) ORGANIZATIONS TO ADDRESS THE MAIN ISSUES
1- Establisment of a UNION with the Foreign Chambers in Turkey
( British , French , Italian , Swiss , Belgium Chambers and Taba Amcham )
to organize Business conferences and joint lobbying activities .
2- Initiation of an INSTITUTE for ARBITRATION
- Our studies show that arbitration is an important issue in big contracts
- Government is reluctant due to lack of confidence in foreign arbitrators
- Contractors insist on foreign arbitrators
- We investigated the possibility of founding an Arbitration Institute with the participation of other Foreign Chambers in Turkey .
- Country's leading international lawyers and representatives of other Chambers supported our initiative .

I am very pleased to be in Turkey a long overdue visit . I came to Turkey to celebrate extraordinary long term beneficial relations between our two countries . We have always been dependant one upon another in times of difficulties and challenges . Once again following the terrific events of nine eleventh we were immediately supported by the government and as important by the people of Turkey who always responded with the understanding of challenges U.S. is facing . We have pride with the extraordinary position of this country geographically , politically and militarily.

Ofcourse the real challenge in front of us is to understand and expand the economic relationships between Turkey and the United States . When the Prime Minister , Dr. Erdem and others came to visit United States , your Prime Minister spoke in the Chamber's office right across the White house , we loooked forward to expand the economic contacts between two countries .Here I am ready to go . I was impressed by the presentation describing the activities of Taba and the important work Dr. Erdem and Taba staff is performing to make Taba even a stronger organization . We are honored and pleased to count on Taba in our Worldwide organization . I remember the last line of the last slide of the presentation . It was an invitation to American Companies to join to this important Organization . Chamber and myself surely will try to make more American Companies to be a member of Taba .

When you look at the business Organizations in Turkey . There lots of them organized around the specific regions or industry . I think their efforts are very important dealing with government and economic realities but at the same time there is a need going forward to consolidation of energies . As it is mentioned in the presentation , there is a need in Turkey for U.S. investment and we understand that and encourage it . In order to attract it you have to understand what brings capital into a Country . Capital goes where it is welcome . Capital goes where it is safe . Capital goes where has potential to get return . Obviously U.S. Capital wants to come to Turkey where in most instances it is safe . But it has to be able to make profit . As we all know there are a series of economic issues in terms of the open market , transparency and regulatory reforms . It sounds like I am speaking about United States . Please understand that we have the same challenges in U.S. to attract it . They just need to be opening the opportunity to come and do business in Turkey , instead of long protective approval procurements and difficult Customs . I am here to seek solutions .

Let me give you two other comments .Turkey I say geographically is positioned in an extraordinary place . It is a miracle the way to develope the government , series of relationships and contacts to make an influential and powerful force in this part of the world . It is appropriate for you to expand the relationships with E.U. It is also essential ,while you do that , to expand the economic relations with the United States . We support these efforts .

I came here to seek ways to expand bilateral economic relations . I came here to celebrate , appreciate and thank you for the extraordinary diplomatic relations between U.S. and Turkey on national security side . I came here to say in the end how much we deeply appreciate your friendship in time of crisis , particularly following the events of September eleven .

Finally I commit you my efforts to encourage more American Companies not only to join Taba but bring their efforts to attract more investments into this Country . I will work hard with you and the Government to establish open market conditions to welcome Capital , to make it productive and ensure safety . This is our first visit in the number of days of our travel in Turkey . Following this we will go to Russia to have deep and serious discussions to deal with their economic problems .

I came here because of my commitment to further developing the economic relations which I had promised your Prime Minister and because my wife and I , did not come before to this Country . Thank you for your hospitality and looking forward to see many of you on the days to come .