Arafat Says They Want To Further Improve Relations With Turkey

SILOPI - Mosul Deputy Governor Ibrahim Arafat said on Tuesday that they wanted to further improve relations in every field with Turkey, adding that they invited Turkish businessmen to Mosul.
Arafat and an accompanying delegation came together with Turkish businessmen in Silopi.
Stating that the meeting between Iraqi and Turkish businessmen was very good, Arafat said that he believed that there would be very important developments in commercial field between the two countries.
Arafat said that they invited Turkish businessmen to Iraq and stated that they wanted to further improve relations in every field with Turkey.
Ebu Bengi Ahmed, director of Ibrahim Halil customs gate in Iraq, said that Ibrahim Halil customs gate was open and stated that nearly 400 vehicles passed from the gate in a day before the war, but now about 700 vehicles were passing from the gate.
Ankara Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (SIAD) Chairman Cengiz Bozbeyoglu said that the meeting was very positive and stated that exports of construction materials and sale of foodstuff and other goods to Iraq in re-building process of the country were discussed in the meeting.
Stating that those kinds of meetings should continue, Bozbeyoglu said, ''Turkey has passed through economic crisis since 1991. Those steps will help economic crisis be overcome. We consider Iraq an exit of Turkey. Every product which is demanded has been passing from Habur border gate. We will start to export products soon. Habur border gate will be one of the most important border gates of the world.''
Sirnak Chamber of Industry and Trade Chairman Kamil Ilhan said that authority vacuum in Iraq lasted shorter than expected and stated that Turkish businessmen exerted great efforts to meet with Iraqi businessmen before the meeting.
Iraqi delegation headed by Mosul Deputy Governor Arafat passed from Habur border gate to Iraq.
(EÖ-AÖ) 10.06.2003