Crown Prince Haakon of Norway said that Norway wanted to cooperate with Turkey in many areas including hydro energy and maritime.

The main aim of his visit to Turkey was to boost cooperation in hydro energy, Haakon told reporters at the hotel where he is staying in the Turkish capital of Ankara.

Haakon is actually visiting Turkey upon an invitation of Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The crown prince said that Norway was experienced in hydro energy, and was supplying 90 percent of its electricity with this method.

Haakon said that his country also wanted to further improve cooperation with Turkey in maritime, and tourism.

Turkey was undertaking a significant role as a bridge between Asia and Europe, and European Union (EU) membership was a decision Turkish people had to make, Haakon said.

The crown prince said that Norway was not a member of the EU however it had close relations with the union.

Crown Prince Haakon said that there was free movement of goods and services between the EU and Norway, and his country was integrated with the union and the EU was the biggest trade partner of his country.

Arriving in Turkey on Tuesday, Haakon had a meeting with Premier Erdogan and attended a dinner hosted in his honor by the Turkish prime minister.

Haakon is also scheduled to be received by President Abdullah Gul.

Sylvia Brustad, the minister of trade and industry of Norway; Elisabeth Walaas, the deputy minister of foreign affairs; and Liv Monica Stubholt, the deputy minister of petroleum and energy; are accompanying Prince Haakon.

The crown prince will participate in a forum on hydro energy in Ankara on Wednesday.

Prince Haakon is expected to attend the opening ceremony of a seminar on maritime in the Turkish city of Istanbul on Thursday.


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