ANKARA - Iraqi Transportation Minister Bahnam Ziya Bulus said on Monday that they considered to open their airports to international air traffic and they need experience of Turkish firms in enlargement projects of those airports and wanted Turkish firms to concern with Kirkuk and Mosul airports projects.
Transportation Minister Binali Yildirim received Bulus.
Noting that he aimed to discuss the issues concerning transportation ministries of two countries and the opportunities to develop cooperation on economic and commercial fields, Bulus thanked Turkey for its supportive manner and attitude towards Iraq and Iraqi people.
Bulus said that developments which would shadow sound and rooted relations of two countries did not affect those relations and stressed that those relations would further improve with the meetings and cooperation.
Noting that progressing developments were experienced in Iraq and better results would be reached in the aspects of security and stability, Bulus said that cooperation in every field would develop and increase after the desired stability and security were restored in Iraq.
Bulus expressed his pleasure for being in cooperation with Turkey in every field.
Yildirim said that the interrupted relations between Turkey and Iraq during war period continued after the war.
Yildirim said that Turkey provided every type of support to Iraq for the reconstruction of the country after war and especially in transportation field, adding that they wanted this support to increase. Noting that the train schedules, which were interrupted, started again and food aid and construction materials were carried to Iraq, Yildirim said that Turkey decided to open a second border gate in Ovadere and necessary loan was taken from Japan for the construction of the border gate. He added that thus, existing travels, commercial activities and investment activities for reconstruction of Iraq would speed up.
When asked on which fields they wanted to see Turkish investors in Iraq, Bulus said that they needed Turkish firms in every fields. He added that they knew the experience and capabilities of Turkish firms very well.
Bulus said that they considered to open provincial airports to international air traffic and they need experience of Turkish firms in enlargement projects of those airports. He added that they would discuss the issue of returning Mersin-Iskenderun ports to their activities before 1990.
Upon a question, Bulus said that he had met with Foreign Trade Undersecretary today and learned that Turkish Airlines had demanded routine flights and cargo transportation three months ago, but this demand did not reach to them. He stressed that he would follow this issue.
Bulus wanted Kirkuk and Mosul Airports to be opened to international air traffic and Turkish firms to interest in two projects.
(GC-UK) 29.12.2003