‘There are very small stones under every big monument for equilibrium. Foreigners make me feel that I am one of these small balancing stones. Other states are conferring these kinds of awards on me.’

Spain most recently granted $400 million in credit for repair and rehabilitation of the Istanbul - Ankara railroad line at two percent interest and 37 years with a 17 year grace period.

' Spain is ready to provide credit for the steel needed for the Çanakkale Bosphorus Bridge. This is also $500-600 million. The green light is burning for our government to get loans for its projects, Because of it, Spain must be seen as a friend of ours that should never be given up'

We Turks have never been very successful at "manufacturing" and "selling." The number of our businessmen who has taken into their heads to manufacture and sell is so small that they can be counted on one hand. We are very indebted for the compromises they have made in their own private lives and for the unbelievable work these few businessmen have done in order to promote and advertise Turkey to the world. Dr. Zeynel Abidin Erdem is just such a businessman. He is not just the name of a businessman, however, but he is also frequently being on the country's agenda for his work in social and cultural fields. He is also known as "the man who lobbies alone for Turkey." We also have seen him as the businessman closest to state and government leaders, on the European Union (EU) road.

Erdem is someone who can successfully juggle not two watermelons at a time but 40 and he is continually being praised by other countries for the work he does. Erdem is the chairman of the Turkish- Spanish Business Council, a member of the Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK), and because of his contributions to cooperation and friendship between the two countries, he has been deemed worthy of the Royal Merit Decoration "Commander of the Order of the Spanish Civil Merit."

Earlier the Sudanese State Award was given to Erdem. This time the decoration was from Spain, the Royal Award of Merit, an honor rarely granted.

Friendship’s day of honor

At the reception given in Çırağan Palace, Dr. Zeynel Abidin Erdem said, “I am honored on behalf of my country as a Turkish businessman because of the Spanish Civil Merit Decoration that Spanish Ambassador Manuel de la Camara of spoke, drawing attention to the fact that Erdem was active in many fields while he was at the some spoke, drawing attention to the fact that Erdem was active in many fields while he was at the same time one of the very important representatives of the Turkish business sector in America. Noting that Erdem was a patriot, de la Camera pointed out that Erdem had taken part in the visits to important capitals of Europe, along with other very valuable businessmen like himself, in order to support Turkey's membership in the EU. He said, "From that standpoint, I want to say, my dear friend, that you have a marvelous career as a diplomat." De lo Camera also said in his speech, "He [Erdem] is general chairman of the Turkish American Businessmen's Association (TABA), chairman of the Turkish - Spanish Business Council and vice chairman of the French

Spanish King Juan Carlos has seen fit to present to me." A great number of people attended the reception -Kemal Nevrozoglu, general secretary of the Turkish president, high-level Spanish bureaucrats and company representatives as well as board members of the Union of Turkish Chambers of Commerce and Industry (TOBB), DEIK and the Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association [TUSIAD), members of parliament, artists, businessmen and a broad spectrum of the press.

Turkish Business Council. From this standpoint we can say that he has been active on three continents. At the same time he is very active socially. He is the chairman of some small business organizations and at the same time a faculty member of some universities. But what has the greatest importance for us is his encouragement of cooperation between Turkey and Spain. He became chairman of the Turkish-Spanish Business Council in 1996 and since then we can say that trade between Spain and Turkey tripled.

"We will never permit Erdem to remain silent for he will always continue his efforts at developing cooperation between Turkey and Spain. As we understand it, he is planning to organize a meeting of the Turkish – Spanish Business Council in İstanbul. We hope that after this meeting, the Turkish delegation may go to Spain.