Friday, October 30, 2009
ISTANBUL – From wire dispatches
BASRA: Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu (C) walks alongside Turkish Trade Minister Zafer Çağlayan (L) and the governor of the city of Basra, Shiltagh Abud (2nd R), upon their arrival at the city's airport, 550 kilometers from Baghdad, on Oct. 30. Davutoğlu arrived to open a new Turkish consulate in the city. (AFP PHOTO)
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu and State Minister for Foreign Trade Zafer Çağlayan traveled to Iraq in an attempt to improve trade relations between Turkey and Iraq.
Davutoğlu said Turkey would collaborate with Iraq to ensure prosperity and peace in the region during a joint press conference with Iraqi Minister Safaldin al-Safi and Basra Governor Shiltag Abbud Meyyah in Basra on Friday. “We signed 48 agreements in Baghdad two weeks ago. Therefore, we wanted to visit various towns in Iraq to research fields where these could be applied,” the Anatolia news agency quoted Davutoğlu as saying.
“This visit is to crown the improved relations between Iraq and Turkey and showcases joint trade and economic cooperation between the two countries," said al-Safi.
Iraq, and especially Basra, is a center of attraction for foreign investors, said Meyyah. He said Iraqis and Turks should join hands to overcome terrorism.
Çağlayan said the Ostim Organized Industrial Zone in Ankara had started a project to establish an industrial zone in Nasiriyah, Iraq and that they have spoken to authorities in Basra for this purpose.
Çağlayan said the 48 signed agreements would play “a key role” in Iraq’s economic and commercial future.
He said his ministry would collaborate with the Iraqi Ministry of Trade and the Iraq National Investment Council. He said he would hold meetings in various cities in Turkey in the upcoming months regarding investments to be made in Iraq.
Çağlayan said, “I believe trade opens the door for political relations [to develop]. This is why we are here with you,” adding that he was happy to be the first trade minister to visit Basra.
During his speech at a business forum in Basra, Çağlayan said, “I would like to repeat our offer: In return for financing the investments that Turkish business people will make in the region, Iraq can give Turkey petroleum. We can make such a deal.”
Speaking to reporters earlier, Çağlayan said although Turkish businessmen were active in the north of Iraq and Baghdad, they were not active in the southern part of the country. He said the target of their visit was to diversify areas of business.
Çağlayan said Turkey and Iraq had signed a memorandum of understanding to open two more borders by the end of 2010.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Davutoğlu and Governor Meyyah also opened Turkey’s Basra Consulate General together on Friday. Turkey already has an embassy in Baghdad, along with a consulate in the northern city of Mosul and is planning to open another in Arbil shortly.
Two new borders to be opened with Iraq
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