"And I have found both freedom and safety in my madness, the freedom of loneliness and the safety from being understood, for those who understand us enslave something in us. But let me not be too proud of my safety. Even a Thief in a jail is safe from another thief. "

Khalil Gibran (How I Became a Madman)

Lübnan Marunîleri / Yasin Atlıoğlu

NEWS AND ARTICLES / HABERLER VE MAKALELER

Wednesday, December 20, 2006

Syrian-Turkish Relations in Continuous development, Minister says

SOURCE: Syria Arap Republic Ministry of Economy and Trade

Turkish Minister of State for Foreign Trade Kursad Tuzman said Tuesday that the Turkish-Syrian relations are passing through new period of development and that there is a momentum from both sides to push them forward , adding that the exchanged visits to the both countries' senior officials contributed to developing these relations
A strategy was put for developing the trade and economic relations between Syria and turkey for interests of both countries and we are working to upgrade them," Tuzman said.

He pointed out that the free trade agreement between both countries is considered as "a new start", where it will cover two economic areas, the European one and the Arab area as it will be a crossing point between Syria and Turkey.

"I will chair a big businessmen delegation to visit Syria next March as I will visit Syria next week to brief on the achievements in the trade and economic fields which indicated to the depth of the friendship between both countries" he added.

Tuzman said that the trade exchange rate will exceed USD 800 million as the end of the year and it is in continued escalation.

He indicated that volume of the Turkish investments in Syria amounts to USD Billion and half Billion concentrated on the infrastructure and in the field of energy, manufacturing textile and other domains.

The Minister pointed out that the customs tariffs will be reduced after carrying out the free trade agreement to the 3,6 % as in Syria from the beginning of the next year which will contribute to strengthening the trade exchange between the two countries.

"We are happy to establish the financial market and stock exchange in Syria in the forthcoming period as well as the establishment of joint projects in the field of banks and banking cooperation.