Turkish deputy PM holds talks in Sweden

STOCKHOLM (A.A) - Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan held meetings with Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt and Finance Minister Anders Borg as well as he attended 2011 Network conference in Stockholm on Wednesday. Babacan held a press conference at Turkish embassy about his talks in Stockholm. Babacan said he talked about Turkey's economic success, great performance and effectiveness in the region at the conference. European countries should fulfill sound reforms to solve current problems, he said. Babacan said he discussed general situation in Europe in his meeting with Bildt and Borg, stating that Turkey and Sweden shared similar values and ideals.  "Sweden is taking rational steps like Turkey. Sweden is one of the fastest-growing countries after the crisis," he said. Replying to a question on current account deficit, Babacan said that current deficit would be high for a while later it would start to drop. In regard to EU economy, Babacan said growth in EU could cease completely in the last quarter. Asked how Turkey would be affected by economic crisis in EU countries, he said Turkey exported half of its products to EU countries. "If there are serious economic problems there, there can be problems in our exports as well. We are working to boost ties with other markets," he said.  Babacan said that Asian countries were not affected much by this crisis, stating that's why they focused on Asian markets. Later Deputy PM Babacan left Stockholm for Turkey.