KABUL - Foreign Ministry Coordinator for Afghanistan Ahmet Rifat Okcun said on Sunday that successful activities of Turkish businessmen in Afghanistan provided Turkey to be included in the list of countries which would take part in reconstruction activities for Iraq.
Okcun who came to Afghanistan with a delegation to hold meetings met with Turkish businessmen at Turkish Embassy.
Okcun said, ''the success of you in this country where you make business in big difficulties became a reference for Turkey to take part in reconstruction of Iraq. Countries such as Japan and Poland which see your successes in Afghanistan want to work with us in reconstruction of Iraq.'' He congratulated Turkish businessmen for their contribution to reconstruction of Afghanistan.
Recalling that there were nearly three thousand Turkish workers in Afghanistan, Okcun said that they were in Afghanistan to find solution to the problems of businessmen, adding that the biggest problem was security. He said that they had a meeting in Ankara last week and they had discussed how security could be restored and they produced alternative solutions.
Noting that Turkish companies made business worth of 373.4 million dollars nearly within two years in Afghanistan, Okcun said that it was a success and Turkey was taken to the list of countries to take part in reconstruction activities for Iraq.
Okcun recalled that there was 1.5-2 billion dollars of business volume in Afghanistan. Okcun said that they formed a permanent committee and started sectoral meetings with the coordination of Foreign Ministry regarding reconstruction in Iraq.
The meetings of Okcun in Afghanistan will continue for one week. Activities on studies of Turkish businessmen for reconstruction of Afghanistan, ways of solutions of problems and new services of Turkey for Afghanistan will be made.
Representatives of Foreign Ministry, Agriculture and Rural Affairs Ministry, Transportation Ministry and some public and private institutions are in the delegation.
(GC-Öª) 21.12.2003